Citrus growers have voted against a levy on mandarins being increased next year to 1c a kilogram.

National chairman Rick Curtis says in the year ending March this, year the levy brought in almost $45,000, and the increase would have potentially doubled the income.

But because of financial difficulties in the industry in the current economic climate people decided they weren't ready to do that, he says.

Rick Curtis says the major impact will be on research and development projects.