The horticultural industry yielded �45.5m last year

Island Grower Nigel Le Tissier says the latest batch of recommendations from the Horticulture committee would provide a major boost if they are approved by the States.

They include getting rid of disused greenhouse sites, doing more to subsidise the disposal of unwanted horticulture chemicals and earmarking housing licences for non-local workers.

And Mr Le Tissier says many predictions about the future of horticulture locally are too pessimistic.

'Win-win situation'

"There are a number of large growing businesses that are really expanding and looking to a worldwide market," he said.

"This year there has been an increase in demand for flowers."

And he described the granting of housing licences for non-local workers as "essential".

"We actually rely mostly on imported workers, they are over here for nine months of the year and then they go back to their country," said Mr Le Tissier.

"They are helping the local economy of Guernsey, it is in some ways a win-win situation for Guernsey."