December 20 2006, 09:47

Does asparagus production mean another opportunity for small and medium farmers of Ukraine?

Vegetable production is rapidly growing in Ukraine; in these circumstances many farmers try to find new profitable niches on this market. To the experts' opinion, they are quite numerous. Asparagus production for fresh market can be one of such niches. However, the size of inner market is limited. If someone is thinking about commercial asparagus production, it is necessary to investigate the possible sales market for this crop.

According to information provided by FreshPlaza, in the neighboring Poland asparagus production develops quite dynamically, despite of the fact that this crop is not traditional for Poland as well. According to the experts' evaluations, the acreage of asparagus cultivation areas has reached 1,700 ha in Poland this year; the gross production of this crop is 4 thousand tons. Asparagus consumption is still relatively low in Poland, so more than 60% of the produced asparagus is exported to Germany, Holland, France, and Belgium. That's why the main production is concentrated in Western Poland.

As a rule, Polish farmers allocate relatively small acreage (0.5 to 1 ha) to grow asparagus. However, the farms have started to appear recently which cultivate asparagus on 10 and even 15 hectares. Asparagus is harvested starting from early May till June; the yield is up to 100 kg of asparagus sprouts per each hectare. In the southern regions of Ukraine the terms of harvest can be shifted one month at minimum (April to May); this possibility creates additional exporting opportunities. The purchase price for asparagus fluctuates EUR1-4/kg in Poland.

The information of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal. Asparagus is a perennial crop. Asparagus sprouts contain asparagines which help curing diabetes, hypertension, and water-salt balance disorders of the human body. Asparagus consumption reduces the risk of cancer and vascular heart diseases. Asparagus is tasty both fresh and pickled.

This perennial plant crop is not very sensitive, it is frost-resistant. It sprouts at temperature 3-4°С in spring (the optimal temperature for asparagus growth and vegetation is 12-16°С). Plants can grow on the same place for more than twelve years. Asparagus starts yielding on the third year. In the first years the sprouts are harvested during 20-30 days, then - during 1.5-2 months period. The length of marketable sprouts is 15-20 sm., thickness 1-1.5 sm. The production technology is not very complicated, but it is quite labor-intensive in the harvesting period. Twelve to eighteen harvests are done during the season. In cold weather the sprouts are cut off in 3-4 days, in warm weather - in 1-2 days. They are tied in bunches, packed into containers, protected from the sunlight and delivered for sale. The asparagus yield is 30-50 centners/ha during the first years and 70-100 centners/ha in the following years.