Table 16. More work needs to be done to investigate the types <strong>of</strong> vegetable cropping that would be plausible for the project area, but this is beyond the scope <strong>of</strong> this study. Page 46 • PLUREL report No 4.4.3 • December 2010
Table 16: Pr<strong>of</strong>itability <strong>of</strong> horticulture activities by types <strong>of</strong> vegetables in the UK 2004-2008 average production (2008£/ha/year) Gross margin rate (2005-2008 average, %) Gross margin (2008£/ha/ye ar) Asparagus 8,453 58.6 - 64.6 4,953 - 5,461 Beans, green 1,474 58.6 - 64.6 864 - 952 Cabbages and other brassicas 9,082 58.6 - 64.6 5,322 - 5,867 Carrots and turnips 20,140 58.6 - 64.6 11,802 - 13,010 Cauliflowers and broccoli 4,762 58.6 - 64.6 2,791 - 3,076 Chillies and peppers, green 206,974 58.6 - 64.6 121,287 - 133,705 Cucumbers and gherkins 302,710 58.6 - 64.6 177,388 - 195,550 Leeks, other alliaceous veg 20,917 58.6 - 64.6 12,257 - 13,512 Lettuce and chicory 8,491 58.6 - 64.6 4,976 - 5,485 Onions (inc. shallots), green 12,953 58.6 - 64.6 7,590 - 8,368 Onions, dry 7,657 58.6 - 64.6 4,487 - 4,946 Peas, green 10,505 58.6 - 64.6 6,156 - 6,786 Tomatoes 330,961 58.6 - 64.6 193,943 - 213,801 Source: Authors’ own calculations, based on data from FAOSTAT and Farm Business Survey 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 The importance <strong>of</strong> considering external costs <strong>of</strong> agriculture activities has also been recognised in literature and such external costs include the pollution impact <strong>of</strong> fertilisers and pesticides on soils, water air and human health in the long term. These external costs are taken as negative economic <strong>benefit</strong>s <strong>of</strong> this area by adopting the estimated average external costs <strong>of</strong> agricultural activities in the UK at £229/ha/year (1996£), available in Pretty et al. (2000). It is worth nothing that this estimation refers to a national average estimation and the actual external costs specific to the project area can vary with respect to the types <strong>of</strong> agriculture activities. The non-provisioning <strong>benefit</strong>s <strong>of</strong> agricultural <strong>land</strong>s in the UK were estimated at £103/ha/year (2001£) for intensive agriculture, considering only <strong>land</strong>scape value Economics for the Environment Consultancy and Entec (2002). Page 47 • PLUREL report No 4.4.3 • December 2010