THE PROFITABILITY OF APRICOT CULTIVATION IN LIGHT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

TÓTH-KURMAI VIKTÓRIA – APÁTI FERENC – DOROGI DÓRA – SIPOS MARIANNA – CSIHON ÁDÁM

Keywords: Keywords: apricot production, frost protection systems, semi-intensive orchard, super-intensive orchard, cost benefit analysis JEL codes: Q12, Q19

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.53079/GAZDALKODAS.70.2.t.pp_146-165
Apricots are a well-known and popular stone fruit species worldwide, and there is stable market demand for their high-quality fruit in Europe and in Hungary. Our country is located at the northern edge of the economically viable cultivation area, which presents both challenges and opportunities. Yields in Hungary's 5,300-hectare apricot production area fluctuate considerably between 6,000 and 34,000 tonnes, mainly due to spring frosts and outdated production technology. In our study, we evaluated the costs, revenues, and profitability of various cultivation technologies. Frost protection is a decisive factor in the economic viability of apricot production. Under high production standards (intensive cultivation), even less modern, semi-intensive apricot orchards can achieve acceptable income-generating capacity and profitability. However, orchards with higher capital requirements and equipped with crop protection technologies show substantially greater profitability. Based on the results of the investment analysis, by the end of its economic lifetime, a semi-intensive orchard generates an average net present value (NPV) of nearly HUF 9,746,965 per hectare, while a super-intensive orchard generates 2.5 times this amount, and a frost-protected super-intensive orchard 3.6 times as much.