ISHS Acta Horticulturae 55: IV Symposium on Horticultural Economics
STRUCTURE OF AZALEA PRODUCTION IN BELGIUM |
| Author: | L. d'Haese |
| Abstract:
The culture of non-edible products is an important section of Belgian horticulture. In comparison with the total horticultural production the production value of this sector has varied between 20 and 25% in recent years; its value now exceeds of the frtui production. The total production value of the non-edible horticultural products amounted to 5,093,905 million F in 1974. The azalea's share in the same year amounted to 652,460 million F or 12.8%. The expansion of this sector is mainly due to the increase in cultivated area. The azalea area in open air amounted to 227 ha in 1974 as opposed to 113 ha in 1959. The azalea area under glass varied between 35.3 and 50.7 ha in the 1950-1966 period. Since 1966 a rapid expansion of the glass area is observable. It amounted to 92.3 ha in 1974. Azalea production exhibits a very definite geographic concentration. In 1972 there were 671 established azalea concerns in East Flanders. Almost the entire production could be found in a radius of 20 km around Lochristi. This centre has grown historically as a result of the favourable climate and suitability of the soil. The aim of our study of the azalea sector is to add to the basic knowledge of this sector in order to make deductions in connection with the economic development and to strive for an optimal composition of production factors. Basing ourselves on business-economics, bookkeeping, and supplementary technical data of 135 concerns, i.e. 20.11% of the total, we have tried to establish the variation in production area. The processing of these basic data has allowed us to draw a number of conclusions relating to the marketing structure, the production structure and the economic structure. | |
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