Overcoming barriers to development of the Australian jujube industry

Western Australian Agriculture Authority, a body corporate established under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007

  • Project code: PRJ-009959

  • Project stage: Closed

  • Project start date: Friday, May 29, 2015

  • Project completion date: Sunday, July 30, 2017

  • National Priority: NEPI-Feasibility studies and industry literature reviews

Summary

The jujube industry has been steadily developing and building its production knowledge. While there still are lessons to be learnt in the production area, particularly water and nutrient requirements, for the industry to reach its potential it needs to better understand the market opportunities and how to capitalise on these, including overcoming any access issues.
A two-step approach is being proposed, the industry needs to continue to be supported in these early days of development, plus it needs to plan for its future.

Operational support for the industry at its association level, associated support from joint projects (water usage improvement through ‘More Dollars per Drop’) will help to build its foundations. But for government support, the industry needs to be developing with an economic growth plan. DAFWA has the expertise to assist the industry to develop this vision and progress down the path.

The first year will see association support (attendance, support and direction), maintenance of key industry relationships (including international), development of quality parameters and an industry development prospectus.
The second stage, provided a positive outcome from the development prospectus, will see the industry support continue, along with the initiation of steps to overcome market access issues due to fruit fly.

Program

New and Emerging Plant Industries

Research Organisation

Western Australian Agriculture Authority, a body corporate established under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007

Objective Summary

The major objective of the project is to work with the jujube industry to develop a timeline to market success and progress down the road to that success.

It has been established that jujube grow well in a range of regions in Australia and that there is a market locally and potentially overseas for Australian grown fresh jujubes.
However, there are some obstacles for the young jujube industry. For it to break into the mainstream markets in Australia it needs to increase production, develop quality parameters and broaden its window of supply. To remain robust, it must develop marketing strategies and a range of markets over time to provide options for the full range of products produced (fresh, dried and processed).

The understanding of market opportunities and the likely returns will help encourage investment if shown to be potentially profitable. The supply of planting material is currently restricting the growth of the industry. Encouraging increased production of plants will require an indication of the potential growth capacity of the industry.
A thorough economic review of the industry is required to provide the economic information to facilitate investment in the industry. A positive prospectus will not only encourage planting of jujubes, but also increased production of jujube planting stock.