'n Ekonomiese analise van die potensiaal van Sutherland as verbouingsarea vir die uitvoer van tulpbolle na Nederland

[摘要] Tulips are the second largest floral commodity that is traded globally. CurrentlyHolland controls half of the 20 billion Dollar tulip bulb market, although immensepressure from European institutions may serve to change this phenomenon inthe near future. Not only do increasing labour costs and stricter legislation on theusage of pesticides impair this industry, but the Dutch government also placeshuge pressure on its own producers to convert scarce agricultural land intoresidential areas. These conditions could therefore provide a possible marketopportunity for farmers from other countries.Due too the fact that the price of tulip bulbs is based on the size of the flower andthe length of the floral stem, floral farmers generally gain an extra 2-3 cm stemlength via physically cutting it out of the tulip bulb. Therefore, floral farmersannually destroy their whole supply of tulip bulbs, resulting in a need to reacquirebulbs from bulb growers. Due to the fact that the lifespan of cut tulipflowers is generally not more than seven days, Dutch land rezoning ought toresult in tulip bulb production being the production component which could trulybe relocated in a global context. In this study, an economic analysis is thereforeconducted to ascertain South Africa's potential to produce tulip bulbs in order tosupply the growing demand in the Netherlands.Information was gathered by performing a literature study of existing literatureand by conducting structured interviews with numerous experts in their variousfields of operation. Due to the fact that expertise in South Africa was very limited,a large number of interviews were scheduled with experts from Holland andGermany. The presence of strict non-disclosure contracts resulted in a situationwhere interviews had to be conducted with individuals who are two to three levelsremoved from any relevant tulip organisation. The study was conducted through first analysing the global market from ahorticultural perspective and thereafter from an economic-logistical stance. Itwas established that tulip bulbs are very temperature sensitive and thereforehave to be produced far from any tropical zones. Since Sutherland's wintertemperature is similar to that of Dutch production areas, South African tulip bulbscould be planted in Holland. The difference in seasons of production allowsfarmers from the Southern Hemisphere to predict the extremely fashion sensitivemarket in one year less. Via moving production activities between alternativehemispheres, off seasons can be utilized for production, which could result infashions being predicted with a greater sense of accuracy.If unfashionable bulbs are produced, a loss of up to R 34 129,87 per ha can beincurred, while mid-priced bulbs and fashionable bulbs can earn respectivelyR80 118,09 and R 122 626,57 per ha. Projections are however based on theprices of a bear phase where the market currently pays up to 75% less for bulbsthan it did three years ago.The production costs in Sutherland could be cut by R 15 750 if it is decided tomechanise production but simultaneously this action will result in an increase ofR120 000 in new capital equipment required. The use of 40 feet High CubeReefers reduces transportation costs considerably and 1 042 437 bulbs with acircumference of between 10 and 12 cm can be shipped in such an container viautilizing South African produced SN 64190 crates and four way export pallets.Market penetration remains an important consideration since a farmer'sproduction history is very important in the international market environment.Partnerships, production of larger bulbs, organic production and seasonalproduction in alternating hemispheres, remain some of the most suitabletechniques for market penetration.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University