Cost benefit analysis of peri-urban land use policy - Plurel

Table 16: Profitability of horticulture activities by types of 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 of considering external costs of agriculture activities has also been recognised
in literature and such external costs include the pollution impact of fertilisers and pesticides
on soils, water air and human health in the long term. These external costs are taken as
negative economic benefits of this area by adopting the estimated average external costs of
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 of agriculture
activities. The non-provisioning benefits of agricultural lands in the UK were estimated at
£103/ha/year (2001£) for intensive agriculture, considering only landscape value Economics
for the Environment Consultancy and Entec (2002).
Page 47 • PLUREL report No 4.4.3 • December 2010