Methodology for the Valuation of Perennial Crop Plantations in the Context of the Plant Life Cycle: A Case Study of Highbush Blueberry

Abstract

Aim of the work: The aim of the study was to systematise the methodology for valuing perennial crop plantations, taking into account the biological life cycle of the plant.
Research method: Based on an analysis of the legal regulations in force in Poland and a review of the relevant literature, a critical assessment was conducted of the methods commonly applied in valuation practice, including the cost of replacement and liquidation approaches, the mixed approach, and the Skierniewice method. The theoretical considerations were verified through a case study of a highbush blueberry plantation (Vaccinium corymbosum L.).
Key results: It should be noted that applying the cost-based approach to a plantation in its full production phase would lead to a significant underestimation of its market value, which at this stage is primarily determined by its income-generating potential and prevailing market conditions rather than by the sum of historical investment outlays. Following a critical review of the available methods, it was concluded that, under Polish legal conditions, the most comprehensive tool for valuing perennial plantations – already from the first year of their operation and ensuring consistency with the requirements of the Real Estate Management Act – remains the Skierniewice method. However, attention was drawn to the sensitivity of this method to the potential consequences of subjective assessments of plantation quality parameters, as well as to the need for caution when applying price indices during transitional periods preceding updates of normative tables.
Main conclusions: In conclusion, the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach to valuation was emphasised, combining the analytical expertise of a property valuer with specialised agrotechnical knowledge.