Economic and Financial Comparison between Organic and Conventional Farming in Sicilian Lemon Orchards

Sustainability

Filippo Sgroi¹  Matteo Candela²  Anna Maria Di Trapani²  Mario Foderಠ Riccardo Squatrito²  Riccardo Testa²  Salvatore Tudisca² 

[1] Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy;

关键词: agricultural practices;    cost-benefit analysis;    lemon;    organic farming;    profitability;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su7010947

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Sicily has a long tradition in citrus fruit cultivations that with vineyard and olive tree represent the main Mediterranean tree crops. In this paper we have evaluated the economic and financial sustainability of lemon production, both in organic farming and in conventional farming; the two systems differing just for inputs utilized in production process. Economic analysis has been carried out in a representative case study located in the Sicilian northwestern coast, considering an orchard economic life equal to 50 years. Results, which referred to one hectare area, showed both a higher economic and financial sustainability of organic farming respect to conventional farming. The higher profitability of organic farming was due to minor labor requirement and to greater market appreciation for organic products that granted a premium price respect to conventional prices. Moreover, greater profitability of organic farming and use of environmentally friendly inputs in production process make farms competitive and eco-friendly.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.