A Cost Analysis for Establishing

a Barbados Cherry (Malpighia Punicifolia) Orchard

 in Barbados

 Stan Michelini
 Fruit Experiment Station
 for the Caribbean (FRESCA)
 Barbados, W.I.


 An analysis was performed to provide orchard establishment
costs (land preparation, trees, planting, irrigation, herbicide
and fertilizer) for a 3.5 acre planting. Figures are provided for
trees only; trees with a simple drip irrigation system; and trees
with an automated micro-sprinkler system. Local labour and


local equipment costs are used. First year, per acre establish-
ment costs were US$1,805.52 for non-irrigated; $2,247.23 for
drip irrigated; and $2,430.20 for automated micro-spray
plantings.


 Barbados has been a sugar producing island for over 300 years.
In 1980, about 40,000 acres of the island's croplands were planted
in sugarcane, providing 5% of the country's gross domestic pro-
duct and 60% of the agricultural exports. Gross revenue to the
country was US$3,380 per hectare ($1,408 per acre) (Anon.,
1982). The entire production is currently heavily subsidized, as
world market prices have tumbled to about 20% of the above
figures.
 In recognition of the need for diversification of production, the
Ministry of Agriculture has called for increased vegetable and
fruit plantings. Vegetable crops are being cultivated on about
10% of the available land (Anon., 1984), and fruit crops on
about 3%, most in scattered plantings. Perennial crops offer the
advantage of lower energy inputs, conservation of water
resources, less erosion and slower depletion of organic matter
than annual crops. Long-term perennial crops multiply the above
mentioned benefits over a four year ratoon system.
 However, there is no published data for orchard installation
and fruit production under Barbadian conditions. There are no
commercially successful orchards which potential growers may
observe. In view of the large number of bankruptcies and uncer-
tain future, most farmers are even reluctant to plant trees known
to perform well. The lack of information and demonstration con-
tributes to both growers' and bankers' anxiety in attempting to
diversify production.
 All small island producers face production and marketing con-
straints. New plantings to fit expanding markets (mainly new
fruits) offer the greatest return due to lack of competition on
both local and export markets. It is important for the producers
to establish a selling arrangement with the overseas company to
fill a specific need of that company. With the marketing in-place,
production can be geared to supply that market. The first to anti-
cipate or respond to changing market conditions will gain the
most lucrative returns (Kohls and Uhl, 1980).
 Among the most promising of the uncommon production
crops are the soursop, Annona muricata, with predominately pro-
cessing uses; the atemoya, A. squamosa X A. cherimola, a man-
bred hybrid for fresh consumption; the sapodilla, Manilkara
achras, utilizing the best cultivars for heavy bearing and smooth
texture; the many sapote, Calocarpum sapota, an attractive and
flavorful fruit enjoying increasing demand but having a short
harvest season in Florida; the carambola, Averrhoa carambola, a
relatively recent introduction from Southeast Asia with excep-


224


tional bearing and utilization properties; and the Barbados
cherry, or acerola (Malpighia punicifolia) a fruit with Vitamin C
values ranging from 1 to 3% (Asenjo and de Guzman, 1946;
Leden, 1958; Moscoso, 1956). This by no means exhausts the
possibilities, as many other fruits may find markets in the con-
tinuously adventuresome major markets (Michelini, 1982).
 The U.S. market demands produce that is of high quality,
competitively priced, and consistent supply. Manipulation of
flowering times and the subsequent control of fruiting is impor-
tant in filling out of season orders and assuring a consistent sup-
ply. For tropical citrus, moisture relationships rule production
dynamics (Rauther, 1980). The author has observed many similar
responses with other fruits. Therefore, irrigation is strongly
recommended for the serious grower.
 In this paper, the local establishment costs for trees with and
without irrigation were determined. These are the major expenses
until harvesting begins and will give the grower expected costs.
Larger farmers may be able to reduce the machinery component
and improve efficiency through the scale of operations. Smaller
farmers may substitute higher labor inputs for less capital expen-
diture, especially in planting, weeding, machinery and fixed costs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
 A gently sloping 1.4ha (3.5acre) site with water available was
bulldozed and harrowed. Stakes were placed on the row boun-
daries and midway in the rows at 6.25 m (20 ft.) intervals. One-
inch wide red plastic flagging tape was tied to each pole to assist
driver recognition.
 A tractor with a furrowing body was hired to cut twenty 125 m
(400 ft.) rows along the contours. Irrigation mainlines were cut
perpendicular to the rows. The P.V.C. mainlines and 16 mm
polyethylene tubing laterals were laid and the appropriate con-
nections made.
 The container grown trees were delivered and spaced in a
regular square pattern, 11 ft. between each tree in the row, with
one row in every five planted with polinators. As the trees were
planted, lateral lines were flushed and emitters individually in-
stalled to each planted tree. One emitter was placed within six
inches of the crown and the other about 20 inches on the opposite
side of the tree. Since the land had a slope sufficient to cause
major head variations, a pressure compensating emitter was in-
stalled. This emitter has a flow of 4.2 .2 l/hr (1.1 g.p.h.), over
a range of 13 to 60 p.s.i.

 PROCEEDINGS of the CARIBBEAN FOOD CROPS SOCIETY-VOL. XX