Economic Effects of New Technologies Application in Vegetable Production

摘要

Strengthening the competitiveness of national agriculture, imposes the need to increase the production of quality and safe food. Because of this, one of the basic tasks of farmer’s education should be the advancement of knowledge in the field of new technologies application. Adapted to Serbian agro ecological conditions, new technologies are primarily applied in order to obtain higher quality and safe food, food whose production is socially acceptable, economically viable, and without any negative impact on the environment. Research described in paper was primarily focused on the economic analysis (cost-effectiveness) of the new technologies application (smart sensor networks, mobile robotized solar power generator) in vegetable production. Consequently, analysis was based on experimental measurements, in which were done parallel testing of energy efficiency and economic cost-effectiveness of use of four different pumping systems connected to different irrigation systems: electric pumps connected to the public electrical grid; pumps with gasoline engine; pumps with diesel engine; and electric pumps powered by solar power generator. The experiment was carried out on experimental plots under certain vegetable crops (cauliflower, tomatoes and lettuce) that were produced in the two production systems, on the open field and within the protected area (greenhouse), involving the use of irrigation (drip-drop and sprinkler system). Experimental plots are located in village Glogonj - Upper Danube region and village Veliko Selo - Central Danube region. After detailed analysis of results obtained within the one production cycle in vegetable crops production (analysis was done by use of analytical calculations based on variable costs), certain conclusions indicating economic justification of applied new technologies (mobile robotized solar power generator) have been made. Achieved economic effects are reflected through the reduction of fuel spent for irrigation (i.e., variable costs in cauliflower production were decreased for 486 EUR/ha; in tomato production for 554 EUR/ha; or in lettuce production for 340 EUR/ha).