Thesis (MScAgric) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The table grape industry is a major contributor to the South African economy, directly
through foreign earnings from this predominantly export-based industry, as well as
indirectly through the employment of thousands of people. It is a growing industry and
consists of several production areas. The fastest growing table grape production area in
South Africa is the Lower Orange River area, which produces some of the earliest grapes
in the Southern Hemisphere. The biggest river in South Africa irrigates this area and it has
an extreme climate characteristic of semi-desert areas. This area is considered to be
optimal for the production of high quality, early, white seedless grapes. Previously, this
area was predominantly planted to Sultanina vines for the purpose of raisin production.
When seedless table grapes became a consumer preference, the producers very
successfully converted their production practices to yield export quality seedless grapes
from the established Sultanina vineyards. Extensive new plantings as well as re-plantings
occurred in this area, also including newer cultivars from local and overseas breeding
programmes. Being a viticultural and economical hot-spot, the Lower Orange River area
is attracting much attention as a table grape production area and it also formed the
backdrop to this study.
The cultivar profile is changing in the area and it is projected that Sultana-, Regal-,
Prime Seedless and Sugraone will be the four major early, white seedless cultivars in
2005. Based on this knowledge and prompted by a lack of information regarding
production costs and general profitability of the new cultivars, this study was initiated in the
form of a comparative analysis between the four mentioned cultivars spanning the early,
middle and late regions of the Lower Orange River area. The approach used extracted
information regarding cultural input costs (specifically labour as man-hours and the
consequent costs) per manipulation performed in the vineyards. This approach is different
from the more general method of obtaining input costs for a specific area based on
combined mean values, often not distinguishing between cultivars. The specific aims of
the study included a comparative analysis of input costs for production cultural practices
per main manipulation action, as well as a comparative analysis taking into account
productivity, value and extraordinary costs related to each of the four cultivars. To this
end, 22 experimental plots were identified for use in the study. Collaboration of the
production managers of each of the experimental plots were procured and information
regarding production costs per manipulation and productivity of each cultivar and
experimental plot were extracted from their own record keeping systems or from
documents provided to the production managers. The value (price achieved) of the
various cultivars for the 2001/2002 table grape season were put into perspective by using
data from a survey which included information regarding payments for the various cultivars
during the season in the Lower Orange River area. Information regarding fruit and vine
royalties was obtained from the various plant breeders' rights holders of the various cultivars, where applicable. Primary descriptions of each experimental plot concerning
general cultivation practices and information regarding the specific season were used to
qualify results obtained from the various blocks.
Several complicating factors impacted on the study and specifically the subsequent
analyses of the results. Some of the factors were already identified as complicating
factors in the planning stage of the study and were mostly linked to the recent introduction
of two of the cultivars to the Orange River area. From the data gathered and the analyses
performed it became clear that it would be difficult to discern significant differences (where
significant is defined as PS0.10), but clear trends were observed and indications obtained.
Based on the input cost analyses of this study it is proposed that mature Prime Seedless
will have the highest labour input and cultural production cost of the four cultivars, followed
by Sugraone. The labour input and the cost for the production cultural practices studied
for young Prime Seedless vines were very high in comparison to the mature Sultana
Seedless and Sugraone vines, especially for the canopy management and bunch
manipulation actions. Prime Seedless was especially prone to the set of small and uneven
berries, which lead to very high labour input requirements and subsequent cost for bunch
manipulations. Sugraone is also known for the set of small and uneven berries in the
Lower Orange River area, especially in difficult climatic seasons, also requiring high labour
input for bunch manipulations.
The initial indication is that mature Sultana- and Regal Seedless will require similar
labour inputs for cultural production practices. The fact that Regal Seedless does not
require expensive gibberellic acid (GA) applications, or girdling for thinning and berry
enlargement purposes, is a tremendous advantage from a production cost point of view.
Accordingly, initial indications are that Regal Seedless will have the lowest cultural
production cost of the four cultivars. Regal Seedless was prone to the set of uneven
berries during the year of study and accordingly it is suspected that this factor will
ultimately determine the labour requirements and cultural production input cost, especially
in difficult climatic seasons. The labour input and ultimately the cultural production cost for
Sultana Seedless will be determined by the correct timing and concentration of the GA
applications for thinning and berry sizing.
Sultana Seedless and Sugraone produced high yields during the 2001/2002 table
grape season in the Lower Orange River area. Yield information from the various
experimental plots confirmed that there is little to choose between the two cultivars in
terms of yield when cultivation conditions and practices are optimal. Large variation was
observed in the yield results from the Regal- and Prime Seedless experimental plots. This
is largely due to the recent introduction of the cultivars to the area and the consequent
scarcity of blocks of these cultivars that are in full production. It was impossible to identify
clear trends in terms of the future productivity of mature Regal- and Prime Seedless, but
some indications of labour inputs could be extracted and qualified.
Early maturing Prime Seedless and Sugraone performed very well in terms of price,
especially in the harvest period prior to week 50. This advantage of high prices early in the season is, however, not always applicable to early cultivars in the later maturing
regions of the Lower Orange River area. Later during the season, after week 50, when the
supply of table grapes to the overseas markets has increased sharply, Sultana Seedless is
usually the best performer in terms of price of the four cultivars. The ultimate price
obtained by a cultivar is to a large extent determined by supply and demand, quality and
acceptance of the specific cultivar.
This study and its outcomes have a strong regional (Lower Orange River) and local
(South Africa) impact and the specific results will undoubtedly be valuable to the
producers, exporters and other role-players with vested interest in the cultivars studied or
in table grape production per se. The methodology adopted in this study, however, is of
broader interest and dearly shows the advantage of having detailed and qualified
information regarding cultivation practices and bringing it in relation to the labour and
consequent costs required per action. This should lead to more business intelligence and
realistic planning on the producer side when decisions regarding the choice of a cultivar for
a specific production area with a particular marketing scope have to be made. This study
has also paved the way for similar studies, specifically with regard to the detailed
description of the methodology that was established. Knowledge of the problems
experienced in this study provides a useful reference for the planning and execution of
similar studies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tafeldruifindustrie dra grootskaals by tot die Suid- Afrikaanse ekonomie: regstreeks
deur middel van buitelandse valuta vanaf hierdie hoofsaaklik uitvoer-gebaseerde industrie,
asook indirek deur werkverskaffing aan duisende mense. Dit is 'n vinnig groeiende
industrie en bestaan uit verskeie produksie-areas waarvan die Benede-Oranjerivierarea,
waar van die vroegste druiwe in die suidelike halfrond geproduseer word, tans die meeste
groei toon. Die grootste rivier in Suid-Afrika vloei deur hierdie gebied wat deur uiterste
klimaatstoestande, soortgelyk aan die van semi-woestyngebiede, gekenmerk word.
Hierdie gebied is baie gunstig vir die produksie van hoë-gehalte, vroeë, wit pitlose druiwe.
In die verlede is hoofsaaklik Sultanina vir die produksie van rosyne in hierdie gebied
verbou. Namate pitlose tafeldruiwe voorkeur begin geniet het onder verbruikers
wêreldwyd, het produseerders in die area hul verbouingspraktyke suksesvol aangepas vir
die produksie van uitvoergehalte tafeldruiwe vanaf die grootskaalse, reeds gevestigde
Sultanina-wingerde. Uitgebreide aanplantings en heraanplantings, wat nuwe cultivars van
plaaslike en oorsese teelprogramme ingesluit het, is in hierdie gebied gedoen. Die vinnige
groei in tafeldruifaanplantings en -uitvoere, asook die ekonomiese impak van die industrie
in die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied, het die afgelope aantal jaar sterk op die voorgrond
getree en het gevolglik gedien as agtergrond vir hierdie studie.
Die cultivarprofiel in dié area is besig om te verander en volgens vooruitskattings gaan
Sultana, Regal, Prime Seedless en Sugraone die vier prominente vroeë, wit, pitlose
tafeldruifcultivars in 2005 wees. Gebaseer op hierdie feit en na aanleiding van 'n behoefte
aan meer inligting met betrekking tot produksiekostes en algemene winsgewendheid van
die nuwe cultivars, is 'n vergelykende studie aangaande die vier genoemde cultivars in die
Benede-Oranjeriviergebied geloods. Die benadering wat gedurende die studie gevolg is,
het inligting aangaande produksie-insetkoste (spesifiek arbeid in man-ure en gevolglike
koste) per manipulasie onttrek. Hierdie benadering verskil van die meer algemene
metodiek om insetkoste-inligting van 'n spesifieke area van gekombineerde gemiddelde
waardes te verkry. Met so 'n benadering word gewoonlik geen onderskeid tussen cultivars
getref nie.
Die spesifieke doelwitte van hierdie studie het 'n vergelykende analise aangaande die
insetkoste van die produksiepraktyke per hoofmanipulasie/aksie ingesluit, asook 'n analise
waar produktiwiteit, waarde en buitengewone koste van die vier cultivars in ag geneem is.
In totaal is 22 eksperimentele persele gebruik in die studie. Samewerking van die
produksiebestuurders van die onderskeie esperimentele persele is verkry ten opsigte van
die verskaffing van inligting oor produksiekoste per manipulasie, en die produktiwiteit per
cultivar en eksperimentele perseel. Die produksiebestuurders het die nodige dokumente
ontvang om die inligting te onttrek, of kon die inligting verskaf soos dit in hul
rekordhoudingsisteem voorgekom het. Die waarde (prys behaal) van die onderskeie
cultivars vir die 2001/2002-seisoen is in perspektief gestel deur gebruik te maak van 'n opname wat in die Benede Oranjeriviergebied plaasgevind het. Hierdie opname het
inligting oor die uitbetalings van die onderskeie cultivars in die area vir die 2001/2002-
seisoen ingesluit. Inligting rakende die stok- en vrugproduksie-tantieme is vanaf die
onderskeie plantttelersregtehouers van die cultivars verkry. Primêre beskywings van die
algemene verbouingspraktyke van elke eksperimentele blok en inligting oor die spesifieke
seisoen is gebruik om die data wat vanaf die esperimentele persele verkry is, in
perskektief te stel.
Verskeie kompliserende faktore het die studie en die ontleding van data beïnvloed.
Verskeie van hierdie faktore is reeds geidentifiseer met die beplanning van die studie en
was meestal gekoppel aan die onlangse bekendstelling van Regal en Prime Seedless aan
die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied. Na aanleiding van die data wat ingesamel en ontleed is,
was dit duidelik dat dit moeilik sou wees om betekenisvolle verskille (waar "betekenisvol"
as PS0.10 gedifinieer is) tussen die cultivars uit te lig, maar dat dit egter wel moontlik sou
wees om aanvanklike indikasies en tendense te kry. Gebaseer op die insetkoste-ontleding
van die studie blyk dit dat volwasse Prime Seedless die hoogste arbeidsinsetle en
produksiekoste van die vier cultivars gaan hê, gevolg deur Sugraone. Die arbeidsinsetle
en koste van die produksie-aksies wat van jong Prime Seedless bestudeer is, was baie
hoog in vergelyking met volwasse Sultana Seedless- en Sugraone-stokke, veral ten
opsigte van lowerbestuur en trosmanipulasies. Prime Seedless was veral geneig tot die
set van klein, oneweredige korrels, wat tot baie hoë arbeidsinsetle en gevolglik koste vir
trosmanipulasies gelei het. Sugraone is ook daarvoor bekend dat dit geneig is tot die set
van klein, oneweredige korrels in die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied (veral in moeilike
klimaatseisoene), wat gevolglik tot hoë arbeidsinstle vir trosmanipulasie lei.
Die aanvanklike aanduiding is dat volwasse Sultana en Regal Seedless min of meer
die dieselfde arbeidsinsetle vir verbouing sal vereis. Die feit dat Regal Seedless nie duur
gibberelliensuur (GS)-behandelings vir blomtrosuitdunning of korrelvergroting benodig nie,
is 'n enorme voordeel in terme van produksiekoste. Gevolglik is die aanvanklike
aanduiding dat Regal Seedless die laagste produksieskoste van die vier cultivars sal hê.
In die studiejaar was Regal Seedless egter geneig tot die set van onweredige korrels en
gevolglik word verwag dat hierdie faktor uiteindelik die arbeidsinsetle en produsiekoste
van die cultivar sal bepaal, veral in moeilike klimaatseisoene. Die arbiedsinsetle en
produksiekoste van Sultana Seedless sal bepaal word deur die korrekte tydsberekening
en konsentrasie van die GS-behandelings vir uitdunning en korrelvergroting.
Sultana Seedless en Sugraone het gedurende die 2001/2002-seisoen hoë opbrengste
in die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied geproduseer. Oesdata inligting van die onderskeie
esperimentele persele het bevestig dat daar min te kies is tussen die twee cultivars in
terme van produktiwiteit wanneer verbouingstoestande en -praktyke optimaal is. Groot
variasie is egter waargeneem in die opbrengsresultate van die Regal en Prime Seedless.
Dit is hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die onlangse bekendstelling van die twee cultivars in die
area en dus ook die beperkte aantal blokke van die cultivars wat reeds in vol produksie
was. Dit was dus onmoontlik om duidelike tendense in terme van die toekomstige produksie van volwasse Regal en Prime Seedless te identifiseer. Indikasies van
arbeidsinsette en produksiekoste kon egter wel verkry word.
Vroeg rypwordende Prime Seedless en Sugraone vaar baie goed in terme van die
prys wat dit behaal, veral in die oesperiode voor week 50. Hierdie voordeel van hoë pryse
behaal vroeg in die seisoen is egter nie altyd van toepassing op vroeë cultivars in die later
rypwordende areas van die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied nie. Later in die seisoen (na week
50), wanneer die aanbod van tafeldruiwe op oorsese markte skerp toegeneem het, is
Sultana Seedless gewoonlik die beste presteerder in terme van prys van die vier cultivars.
Die uiteindelike prys wat deur cultivars behaal word, word tot 'n groot mate bepaal deur
vraag en aanbod, kwaliteit en aanvaarding van die cultivar deur die verbruiker.
Die studie en die uitkomste daarvan het 'n sterk streeks (Benede-Oranjerivier) en
plaaslike (Suid-Afrika) impak, en die spesifieke resultate salongetwyfeld van waarde wees
vir produseerders, uitvoerders en ander rolspelers met bestaande belange in die cultivars
of vir tafeldruifproduksie as sulks. Die metodiek wat in hierdie studie gebruik is, is egter
van breêr belang en wys duidelik die voordele daarvan om gedetailleerde en
gekwalifiseerde inligting aangaande produksiepraktyke te hê, wat dit ook in verband bring
met arbeid en gevolglike koste per aksie. Dit behoort te lei tot meer besigheidsintelligensie
en realistiese beplanning deur die produseerder met betrekking tot
cultivarkeuse vir 'n spesifieke produksiearea met 'n spesifieke bemarkings geleentheid.
Hierdie studie het ook die weg gebaan vir soortgelyke studies, spesifiek ten opsigte van
die gedetailleerde beskrywing van die metodiek wat gevestig is. Kennis van die probleme
wat in hierdie studie ondervind is, kan dien as nuttige verwysing vir die beplanning en
uitvoer van soortgelyke studies.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52739 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Burger, Henning (Henning Jacobus),1978- |
| Contributors | Vivier, M. A., Orth, C., Sadie, A., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Horticulture. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 122 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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