The horticultural industry yielded �45.5m last year

The Horticulture Committee is proposing a number of measures aimed at protecting island growers' long-term future.

In 1966, more than 1,000 acres of land was used for growing, and that figure had fallen to just 284 by 2001.

But financially, horticulture yielded �45.5m last year - up about 8% on the previous 12 months.

The Committee for Horticulture's review sets out a number of recommendations for States approval.

Derelict sites

They include a joint nine-month study, with the Island Development Committee, to identify key sites for horticultural use.

They would be more than five acres in size, have existing metal-framed glasshouses, have good access and be free from environmental contamination.

The committee also wants to investigate knocking down and clearing derelict greenhouse sites.

It is proposing to spend up to �10,000 on subsidising the disposal of unwanted crop chemicals.