ABSTRACT

Worldwide, water scarcity, profit-cost pressure and restructuring of agricultural markets have led to on-farm diversification. The Goulburn Valley’s (GV) pome and stone fruit farms, in the Murray-Darling Basin of Australia, present potential lessons for the conditions under which alternative crops can sustain livelihoods. This research uses a mixed methods approach to assess the viability of vegetable production in the GV region. Quantitative and qualitative data collected from primary and secondary sources were analysed within the conceptual framework of ‘opportunity and ability to diversify’. The favourable biophysical factors of GV region and a positive return on investment from vegetable production that is comparable with fruit production, provide an opportunity for crop diversification to the fruit farmers of the region. Socio-economic factors, including loss of market for fruit crops, family and peer group support and flexibility in vegetable production, supported crop diversification. Factors that prevented fruit growers from diversification include, risk to existing business, capital locked in fruit related infrastructure and lack of vegetable marketing knowledge, among other reasons. The approach highlights the underlying factors for crop diversification that can be applied to any region by agricultural extension agencies to evaluate the potential for diversification.

摘要

在全球范围内，水资源短缺、利润成本压力和农业市场重组导致农场多样化。位于澳大利亚墨累-达令盆地的古尔本谷 (GV) 梨果和核果农场为替代作物维持生计的条件提供了潜在的经验教训。本研究采用混合方法评估 GV 地区蔬菜生产的可行性。从一手和二手来源收集的定量和定性数据在“机会和多样化能力”的概念框架内进行了分析。GV地区有利的生物物理因素和与水果生产相当的蔬菜生产投资的正回报，为该地区的果农提供了作物多样化的机会。社会经济因素，包括水果作物失去市场、家庭和同龄群体的支持以及蔬菜生产的灵活性，支持作物多样化。阻碍水果种植者多样化的因素包括现有业务面临的风险、资本锁定在与水果相关的基础设施中以及缺乏蔬菜营销知识等。该方法强调了作物多样化的潜在因素，农业推广机构可以将其应用于任何地区，以评估多样化的潜力。资金锁定在与水果相关的基础设施和缺乏蔬菜营销知识等原因。该方法强调了作物多样化的潜在因素，农业推广机构可以将其应用于任何地区，以评估多样化的潜力。资金锁定在与水果相关的基础设施和缺乏蔬菜营销知识等原因。该方法强调了作物多样化的潜在因素，农业推广机构可以将其应用于任何地区，以评估多样化的潜力。