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Citrus industry statistics from 2004
Summary
The citrus industry in the AlpValleys region is small and often
undertaken as a secondary farming activity. Almost exclusively the
industry is based within the Rural City of Wangaratta.
North East Region |
1996 – 97
AG Census |
2000 – 01
AG Census |
Gross value of citrus production |
$175,932 |
$411,846 |
Production volume (kg) |
316,044 |
652,915 |
Total number of trees |
15,538 |
13,410 |
Contribution to Victorian GVP
of commodity |
0.29% |
0.59% |
Contribution to Australian
GVP of commodity |
0.05% |
0.10% |
Estimated number of farms |
10 |
7 |
Source: ABS Agricultural Census 1997 and 2001
Location of the citrus industry within AlpValleys region
2001 Ag Census |
%
of GVP |
%
of production volume |
%
of farms for commodity |
North East Region |
Victoria |
North East Region |
Victoria |
North East Region |
Victoria |
Alpine Shire |
Less than 0.1% |
Less than 0.1% |
Less than 0.1% |
Less than 0.1% |
17% |
0.30% |
Towong Shire |
Less than 0.1% |
Less than 0.1% |
Less than 0.1% |
Less than 0.1% |
34% |
0.59% |
Wangaratta (RC) |
>99% |
0.6% |
>99% |
0.7% |
50% |
0.86% |
Projected citrus industry growth
Source |
Indicator |
Comments |
(ABS AG Census and Survey data |
Growth in production volume 1997 to 2001 |
Production of citrus in North
East Victoria increased by 107% between 1997 and 2001, from
316 tonnes to 653 tonnes. The total number of trees declined
for the same period by 14%, from 15,538 in 1997 down to 13,410
in 2001. The increased product output per tree from 1997 is
possibly the result of seasonal variation – i.e. weather,
plant lifecycle and farm management. |
Citrus industry labour requirements
Casual labour seems the only requirement for citrus growers - between
1-2 labourers per farm.
Citrus industry marketing activities
Detail |
Comments |
Labels and brands |
Warby Range Non-irrigated Citrus, River Grove. |
Citrus industry strategic advantages and opportunities
- Increasing overseas and domestic demand.
- Decreasing wide swings in supply and demand.
- Southern hemisphere position to take advantage of northern hemisphere
markets.
- Expanding international market due to increasing levels of disposable
income in Asia
- Freedom from many serious pests and diseases is maintained through
Auscitrus budwood scheme.
- Rigorous import quarantine requirements.
Citrus industry strategic disadvantages and impediments to growth
- Lack of regional cooperatives and accessibility to processing
facilities.
- Very small volumes of citrus produced compared to other Victorian
regions.
- Little firm knowledge of short term and long term supply and
demand relationships and how to control them, leading to wide swings
in prices.
- Very little working together between growers, packers and juice
processors.
- Declining base of technical expertise for citrus in research
agencies.
Source: ABS Agricultural Census - 2001 |
