Feasibility of investments for planting and maintenance of apple orchards by applying various technologies

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to determine correctly the investments required to establish apple orchards, as well as to point out the best option to ensure the quality, productivity and competitiveness of the relevant products. The feasibility of investments for planting apple orchards is considered according to the following method: preparation of investment budgets for planting and maintenance of apple orchards before fructification for three technologies of fruit cultivation (traditional, intensive and super-intensive), the budget for the apple orchard during the fructification period, and the comparison of the obtained results of calculation. The traditional orchard technology is more extensive, easier to implement, needs least investments per hectare and has lower economic effects, the intensive technology needs large investments per hectare and, therefore, allows obtaining more advantageous economic results, while the super-intensive technology is the most expensive, implies the greatest investments per hectare, and allows obtaining the best economic results. Given the above-listed findings, it may be concluded that intensive orchards allow obtaining apples of homogenous calibre and quality, have a high productivity per hectare, at lower costs, and benefit from state subsidies.