Dublin is by far the most important producer of field vegetables and 32 per cent of all growers in the State operate there, a major survey has shown. The Irish Horticulture Board (Bord Glas) survey found that Dublin growers account for 41 per cent of the total field vegetables grown in the State and 50 per cent of the total farm-gate value.
The survey, which excludes potato production, found that 2002 was a difficult year for growers because of bad weather but they managed to grow 4,272 hectares, a six per cent decrease on the previous year.
The estimated farm-gate value of the crop was €43.9 million and this represented a 6 per cent increase in the total farm-gate value since 1999.
As the business becomes more specialised, the Bord Glas survey found there was a 22 per cent decrease in the number of growers to 294.
It estimated that 889 people were employed on farms and this represented a 14 per cent decrease since 1999.
"The decrease in the number of growers producing field vegetables, coupled with the relatively static area under production, is evidence of a greater degree of specialisation and scale within the field vegetable sector," said the report.
It added that the figures may also demonstrate a growing mechanisation in the industry, which has experienced difficulty attracting labour.
It also found the top 10 growers in the State, by area farmed, accounted for 23 per cent of total production area and the top 50 growers, by area, accounted for 60 per cent of total production area. Cabbage and carrots were the most important crops in terms of production area and farm-gate value.