DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7509-996-9-0226

PRODUKCE OVOCE A BUDOUCNOST OVOCNÁŘSTVÍ V ČR / FRUIT PRODUCTION AND THE FUTURE OF FRUIT GROWING IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Martin Ludvík¹

Fruit growing sector belongs to classical crops grown in the Czech Republic. Total ackredge of fruit orchards under professional growing managements is slightly over 11.000 ha. Main fruit-crop are apples representing about 80% of fruit production (t), grown on a half of total fruit-orchards´ surface. Sour cherries and plums are also important crops. There is a long-term decrease in fruit orchards´ ackredge in the Czech Republic. Significant decrease is visible especialy in case of peach and currant production. Another problem is also age of fruit orchards. Aproximately 40% of fruit orchards are more than 20 years old, so their replacement in shortest time horizon is essential. The Czech Republic is dependent on imports of temperate zone fruits. Czech Republis exports especialy fruits for processing like apples or sour cherries. Processed fruit products are imported to the Czech Republic. Good benefit for the domestic fruit-growing sector is one of the highest temperate zone fruit consumption in the EU with 24 kgs per capita a year. Climatic changes, availability of the seasonal labour and price of the energies will be crucial factors limiting further fruit-growing sector devolopment in the Czech Republic.

Keywords: fruit production, orchards ackredge, growing technologies, fruits trade

pages: 226-233, online: 2024