ISHS Acta Horticulturae 103: Symposium on Fruit Production Adjustment in a Changing World, XX IHC
INTRODUCTION ON TEMPERATE FRUIT PRODUCTION ADJUSTMENTS IN A CHANGING WORLD |
| Author: | S.A. Pieniazek |
| Abstract:
Progress in work efficiency is slower in fruit production than in agriculture. In New York State of America between 1914 and 1974, work efficiency increased 52.4 times in wheat, 10.5 times in milk, and 2.5 times in apple production. Industrial methods are introduced on fruit farms to increase work efficiency, at times sacrificing yield increase. Hand labour is replaced by machines. In many regions small 3–5 ha family farms predominate but 10 ha is considered to be the desirable minimum. Cooperatives keep the family farms viable. In some countries large corporations establish fruit plantations of several hundred hectares. Most interesting developments concerned with fruit production on very large farms take place in European socialist states. In the Soviet Union fruit production develops in orchards of 1 000–2 000 ha, or even 4 500 ha. Fruit harvest is a most difficult problem in such orchards. Soviet economists count on machine harvesting for processing. Hand harvest will be done by workers from factories given longer leave in the autumn. Mechanical harvest increases rapidly. Better machines are constructed and cultivars adopted to machine handling are bred. Mechanical harvest lends itself for fruit processing. The processing industry expands because it prepares better products. Dessert fruit must be harvested by hand. Our societies become richer and more egalitarian. They absorb larger quantities of high priced fruit. Farming population decreases but people become aware of the environment pollution. The movement back to nature gains momentum. It is easier lately to get hand labour in fruit growing. Some people turn to organic farming. TMany more go back to home fruit growing and supply their families with increasing quantities of fresh fruits. Horticultural science has dealt mainly with problems of developed countries.
Close to three billion people live in developing countries where the increase in food production does not keep pace with the population explosion.
Modern fruit plantings were also made in developing countries where they formed little islands surrounded by the sea of traditional fruit production.
Traditional fruit production was not based on horticultural research.
The mere mass of it makes us think that perhaps it is better designed to extricate highest yields where 10 or 20 people live from one hectare.
That is why horticultural research, not relinquishing the quest for labour efficiency, should cater more in the future to the problems of home fruit growing in developed countries and strive for maximum yields in the developing countries. | |
