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Introduction
In the dynamic and rapidly advancing international
agricultural industry, successful businesses must deal with market conditions
that are driven by global influences, technological innovations and emerging
consumers' preferences.
Floriculture
industry is an important component of the economy of many countries worldwide.
Unlike
other agricultural commodities, floriculture encompasses thousands of different
plant species, and has the greatest number of unique cultivars.
In
addition, the greenhouse industry is one of the most highly demanding technical
segments of agricultural production.
The level and quality of agricultural production in general
and floriculture in particular depends on many factors. Some of these are more
or less determined by natural conditions, such as climate, topography and soil
types. But other production factors could, in principle be altered: low
yielding crops can be upgraded by modern methods of cultivation; impoverished
soil can be enriched by manure and chemical fertilizers; slow, back-breaking
labor can be made more efficient with well-designed tools and implements.
The constant growth in floricultural production is due to
the close cooperation between researchers, consultants, growers and
agriculture-related industries.
Characteristics of the floriculture
industry:
- The income from the floriculture industry is much
higher than other traditional agriculture crops (for example compared to
vegetables growing).
- The existing growers can be described in most
countries as a highly motivated sector.
- Technology level is low in part of the existing Farms.
However, in some countries the average farmer has the "natural
talent" ("green fingers"). They lack the knowledge and the
means, but they are willing to learn and to improve their methods.
- Product quality is still average. Only few countries
which produced flowers, greens and pot plants can be consider as export
quality nowadays. The main constrains are lack of knowledge, awareness and
means for post-harvest treatment. As well as the lack of standards and
norms for quality and lack of motivating marketing-system.
- Poor assortment of cut flowers, greens and house
plants. The varieties are, generally, of old fashion.
- Undeveloped marketing system is limiting the
industry's trade development mainly to domestic markets.
- Poor linkage research vs. production. Therefore,
research and development efforts are not properly serving properly the
specific needs and know-how is rarely available to the industry.
"They
will tell us we can't change human nature. That's one of the oldest excuses in
the world for doing nothing. And it isn't true".
J. B. Priestley
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