Mechanization of the cactus pear - Initial contribution: features related to the use of work and energy consumption

The cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is an arborescente and succulent pla nt cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries. Today it is diffused a lso throughout the Mediterranean in coastal countries, as Spain, Italy and North Africa. Research on labour use and on energy consumption in cultivati on of the cactus pear in Sicily has been carried out in order to identify t he quality and the quantity of the resources used in the production process , to identify areas in need of innovation and, finally, to ascertain whethe r the cultivation of the cactus pear along current, intensive lines will be able to continue to develop without the input requirements increasing unsu stainably for the areas where the crop is established. Results show that th e work and the energy used remain clearly less than those of other subtropi cal crops spread throughout Italy and that cactus pear would seem to be abl e to enhance those underprivileged areas in Sicilian hill areas. However, i nnovation should be introduced in order to ensure greater conditions of hea lth and safety for the operators, a higher level of production, and before the inflationary trend in production costs puts the survival of the crop it self in danger.