Economic and technical feasibility of upcountry vegetable production in Halmillewa (IL_1a)

Abstract

Market supply of upcountry vegetables suffers heavily during prolonged rainy periods due to crop failures in the main centers of production. The best resolution might be the alternative production regions in relatively dry areas. North Central and North Western dry/intermediate regions during Yala season are highly potential for this task. Therefore the study assessed the technology and economy of upcountry vegetable production in Halmilewa Grama Niladari Division that belongs to agro-ecological region IL1a with the aim of assessing its production potential. Primary and secondary data on crops, varieties, agronomy and marketing were collected, tabulated and examined statistically to understand the standards, technological strength and economy of vegetable production in Halmillewa. Significant differences could be seen in extent of cultivation, selection of crops and agronomic practices within the farming community. Income generation also varied with the selected vegetable crop because cost of cultivation, yield generation and farmgate prizes were different. Most preferred upcountry vegetable by the farmers in Halmilewa Agrarian Services Division is cabbage despite the fact that Knol khol is giving the lowest breakeven yield and the highest gross income. Chemical (synthetic) pesticide application is relatively high in both knol khol and cabbage. Lack of proper advisory support was found to be one of the major limiting factors of the economic and environmental sustainability of this very specific rice based vegetable based cropping system practiced in a highly potential farming region.

Keywords

• agro-chemicals, farmer income, marketing, up-country, vegetable