ISHS Acta Horticulturae 135: VII Symposium on Horticultural Economics, XXI IHC
PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF A CITY-NEAR HORTICULTURAL AREA - RESULTS FROM A FIELD STUDY ABOUT THE HORTICULTURE NEAR HAMBURG - |
| Author: | R. Elers |
| Abstract:
About 1 500 horticultural firms are concentrated in the 'Vier- und Marschlande', a famous horticultural production centre in the immediate vicinity of Hamburg. Most of the firms are small family holdings producing either cutflowers or fresh vegetables for the Hamburg market. The intensity of production is very high and protected cultivation has got an increasing importance throughout the last twenty years. In recent years profit margins for the area's growers have come under pressure due to stagnating producer's prices and rising expenditures. The number of growers is declining and many of those that remain are eating into their reserves. Although changing overall economic conditions make horticultural production more difficult for local growers there remain still enough opportunities for their future development. They are based on the nearby manifold market potential as well as on the application of technical progress in horticultural production. But if any advantages shall be taken of these chances, a rapid adaption of area's internal structures to the changed external framework is absolutely necessary. Grower's adaptability and flexibility are prior conditions for the adaption process. For that reason supporting measures should be taken predominantly in the field of professional education and consultation. | |
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