Cultivation forms and viticulture models adapting to adverse “environmental” conditions

One of the main problems in viticultural production in Istria (Croatia) is a labour shortage in periods of intensive works, mainly during summer, respectively during tourist season. This problem came out as a consequence of active agricultural population decrease provocated mainly by its transition in other, more profitable activities, more likely tourism. Therefore, the aim of this article is to offer organisational-technological solutions in viticultural production, needing less human labour, especially during summer months, without influencing the economic-financial aspect of this production. Authors give proposals in order to relieve this problem.

Two solutions are considered as basical:
1. using the adeguate cultivation models, respectively establishment of a model suitable for a mechanisation of working operations;
2. choice of late ripening grape cultivars, respectively those to ripen after a summer tourist season.