AUSTRALIAN pumpkin growers have been struggling for almost a decade in the face of high production costs relative to prices.
Growers have been experiencing losses since 2007-08 according to figures from Ausveg.
The Veggie Stats report shows that average domestic pumpkin prices have dropped since 2009-10 with average pumpkin production per farm also falling by 52 per cent from 2008-09 to 2011-12.
Ausveg economist Steve Razdan said the nature of the trends is concerning for growers producing pumpkins.
He said the figures allow the representative group to monitor the industry and provide analysis and insights to growers about cost trends.
According to the figures, the average price received per tonne of pumpkin in Australia was $375 in 2011-12, which, when compared to $610 to produce a tonne of this commodity signalled a significant shortfall.
“The information suggests that exporting more pumpkins could be the answer to this current profit drop. Export market growth is definitely an opportunity that pumpkin growers should be considering,” Mr Razdan said.
“The majority of Australia’s pumpkin, squash and gourd exports were sent to Singapore in 2012-13, totalling $1.1 million.
“Energy efficiency, increased mechanisation and investment in international export markets are just some of the areas that R&D is currently looking closely into to make the industry more profitable across all fresh produce commodities.”
Veggie Stats uses data compiled from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) and the Global Trade Atlas.
