Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
premium price are becoming narrower. For many products, export markets
have variety-specifi c quality requirements, with only one or a few varieties
being in demand. Export markets will also require you to meet certifi cation
requirements with respect to how a product is grown and managed, working
conditions and environmental stewardship. An example of a certifi cation
system is the European GlobalGap. All of these factors have to be carefully
analysed before starting this business.
LAND SELECTION
The ideal land for a fruit orchard should normally be fairly fl at with a deep soil
of medium texture and good water percolation to enhance root growth. Soils
with poor drainage are prone to be waterlogged during heavy rains, which can
limit root growth and increase root diseases. Other soil chemical and physical
properties must also be evaluated before starting an orchard. Investing a large
amount of money in land that is not suited for the species to be grown will
normally mean reduced yields and increased production costs. Many times
the savings in purchasing cheap land with poor soil quality will be of set by the
negative economic returns. For an annual crop, if a mistake is made in land
selection and the wrong soil type is chosen, this will become obvious at the end
of the fi rst cycle, while for perennial fruit tree crops with a long juvenile stage
it may take a number of years before the mistake is apparent. This mistake will
be felt every year, resulting in large investment of money spent, not returned,
or both. Careful land selection is therefore essential, and if you are not familiar
with the area, the opinion of an expert will help. A number of key questions
need to be answered (Fig. 3.1) before making a selection. A simple decision
tree (Fig. 3.1) ensures that you evaluate the more important factors that can
potentially impact production and economic return.
In many instances there is a tendency by farmers to plant fruit crops in
the worst areas of their property. Producing fruit is normally a long-term
investment and has large upfront costs of land acquisition, preparation,
planting, establishment and management, and the expectation is for high
returns. The best land available should be used for fruit crops in order to
obtain the best possible economic return. In some cases marginal lands that
are normally only suited for forestry or grazing can be used for fruit trees,
but there is no reason to expect optimal profi ts. Irrigation systems using
drip and micro-sprinkler with fertigation can provide water and nutrients to
the plants, reducing the dif erences in orchard productivity between good
and marginal soil types. The soil, in some situations, has become a place for
the roots to establish themselves and the plants get water and fertilizers from
the irrigation system, but these production technologies cannot correct the
problems associated with poor soils that are saline, have poor structure and
water percolation, frequently are waterlogged or have toxic levels of nutrients.
