Australia
May 20, 2008
Beginning this week, vegetable
growers across Australia will be surveyed by
ABARE about the
profitability of Australia’s vegetable growing regions and the
issues faced by growers.
The survey will explore characteristics of vegetable growing
businesses including production, cost structures, profitability,
and efficiency as well as demographics, socioeconomic
circumstances of people in the industry and the future business
intentions of growers.
This survey is the first of the three vegetable surveys ABARE
will conduct on behalf of Horticulture Australia Limited, with
further surveys in 2009 and 2010.
John Webster, Managing Director, Horticulture Australia Limited,
said industry-wide data was an essential tool in setting a
strategic direction and in developing research and development
programs.
“The ultimate outcome from the effective use of this data will
be a more viable vegetable industry – one that enjoys improved
profitability, is internationally competitive and adopting best
practice techniques,” Mr Webster said.
ABARE Executive Director, Phillip Glyde, emphasised the
importance of the survey.
“We need accurate information from growers so we can provide
valuable information to improve the future of the industry, and
I strongly encourage vegetable growers to participate,” Mr Glyde
said.
Interviews of vegetable growers will be conducted through
face-to-face interviews by official ABARE field collectors. All
information provided remains confidential and will not identify
individuals or their businesses. Survey results are expected to
be released in August 2008.
Information collected from these surveys and information from
the 2007 survey - funded by the Australian Government Department
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - will create a rich
time-series data set on which the industry can draw.
This project was funded by Horticulture Australia Limited using
the vegetable levy and matched funding from the Australian
Government. |
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