Industry: Kiwifruit
Gross value of production |
$1 million |
Number of growers |
6 |
Number employed |
15 |
Seasonal Employment |
100 |
Current annual production |
630 tonnes |
Area under production |
25-30 ha |
1. Description of Product:
Fresh Kiwifruit
2. Location of the Industry:
Kiwifruit is grown primarily in the Ovens Valley at Whorouly immediately adjacent to the Ovens River. There is one smaller grower in the Rosewhite area.
3. Employment and Labour Requirements:
a. Number of Producers:
6
b. Number Regularly Employed:
For a 5 ha farm 2.5 people employed on a regular basis. This would be the general pattern for the whole industry.
c. Harvest Requirements
This industry has significant labour intensive periods. Harvest requirements for a 5ha farm from end of March for 4 weeks are an extra 17 people. Pruning begins in early June and for some 5ha farm an extra 2 people are required for an 8 week period.
A third stage is bud thinning which begins at the end of October. For the 5ha farm an extra 1-2 people are required for 3 weeks.
Ordinarily local networks provide casual farm employment. Skilled labour is not necessary but careful reliable workers are essential.
4. Annual Production:
Total Production (630 tonnes) on the basis of 21 tonnes/ha and 30 ha under production. Good yields in Australia are upto 28 tonnes/ha while in NZ yields of 35 tonnes/ha are achieved. However, one grower in the region produces less than 10 tonnes/ha.
5. Value of Product:
Average export price $2/kg.
Average domestic price $1/kg.
Gross value of production is based on export and domestic sales and is approximately $1 million.
6. Production Trends Over the Next Five Years:
a. Projected:
Worldwide production is stable with demand increasing slightly. Australia is a very small producer in terms of world markets. Domestic markets are dominated by
Class 2 New Zealand fruit. In Shepparton there are 400 acres of kiwifruit production. Outlook in local industry is as a small player in the midst of the bigger framework. Hence projections for change in this region are uncertain.
b. Potential:
Given a number of factors, eg. the dominance of New Zealand production on the domestic market, the relative growing advantage in the Ovens Valley, the existence of proven export markets, there is potential for this industry to grow but because of very high establishment costs and the time taken for the vines to reach mature production, there is no expectation of growth in the next five years.
Extracted from the Bright Report
