(1) Sri Lankan Agriculture in a nutshell

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Isabella Holland
6 years ago
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1 CEA in Sri Lanka

2 (1) Sri Lankan Agriculture in a nutshell Agro-ecol zones (map) Population density 319 (persons per sq. km) Contribution to GDP 11.9% (in 2008) Labour share 31.3% (in 2008) Arable lands 1,910 ( 000 ha) (14.17%) CEA

3 Agricultural Statistics S. L. Crop (Production in metric tons) Tea 317.7* 291, ,400 Rubber 129.2* 136, ,900 Coconut 2909** 2,853** 2,317 Paddy (rice) 3,341,922 3,131,079 4,300,625 Other field crops 400, , ,390 Vegetables 651, , ,869 Fruits 545, , ,752 Floriculture Fruit/ Veg. Imports Fruit/ Veg. Exports Others * Million kgs ** million nuts b : ha 8038 b (14824 holdings)

4 Inception and Landmarks Fruits and Vegetables In 1997 USAIDS Project AgEnt (Highlands) In UNDP Project in Uva Province In Indian Credit line 1000 Poly-houses in Uva Province Since 1997 todate PAEA (Protected Agriculture Entrepreneurs Association) Main activities Greenhouse designs, new crops/ hybrid seeds, climate control, fertilizer formulations, expertise, micro irrigation, crop management and quality assurance

5 Inception and Landmarks Floriculture (Cut-flowers and foliage plants) Since 1970s Large-scale, export-oriented foliage ornamental firms with foreign collaborations Since Early 1980 s - Anthurium and Orchid cut flower production Since Late 1980s Carnations, Chrysanthemums for export Since 1990s Flower seed Production, Roses and other cut flowers and pot plants for local and export markets Main activities Screen/ net houses, new crops/ Varieties, New propagation methods, climate control, Specialty fertilizers, GAP and Five Ss; Foreign expertise, Sanitaion, micro irrigation and Post control and marketing

6 Main Sectors: Floriculture - I Foliage Ornamentals: - Dracaena -Dieffenbachia -Codiaeum -Livistonia -Cordyline -Hosta Shade-loving tropical cut flowers - orchids and anthurium -in low elevations under warm and shady conditions - Mainly for the Export Market

7 Main Sectors: Floriculture -II Sun-loving Temperate or sub-tropical cut flowers Rose Carnations Chrysanthemums Gerbera - in low elevations under warm and shady conditions - Mainly for the Local Markets

8 Main Sectors: Vegetables & Small Fruits Fruit-Vegetables, Leafy vegetables: Tomato Bell / Sweet Pepper Green / Japanese Cucumber Lettuce, Cauliflower, English herbs And Strawberry in Mid and High elevations under mild weather Mainly for the Local Markets

9 Technology: 1. Greenhouse types / Designs Internal climate control: Forced-air ventilation: Blowers for exhaust Shade nets and thermal covers Misting Soft-plastic tunnels with natural ventilation Shade/ Net Houses With fully or partially open sides

10 2. Fertigation / Hydroponics Complete Plant Nutrient Mixtures i.e. Alberts fertilizer (CIC, UniPower) Sterilized Coco-peat + Sand media Drip Fertigation EC and ph Control Drainage and Washing out

11 Grow bag culture i.e. Greenhouse Vegetables in Sri Lanka

12 Other Technologies: 1. Nursery Management 2. Pest Control Chemical and Physical methods (Use of Botanicals and Biological control is low) 3. Pollination Manual 4. Mechanization Very low 5. Sanitation - Satisfactory

13 Other Technologies: Fruit Growth manipulation and harvesting 5. Fruit Thinning 6. Minimizing Physiological disorders 7. Manipulation of the Continuity of Fruit set 8. Use of Harvesting indices, Timing and Methods of Harvesting

14 Post-harvest handling and Marketing Pack house Operations Cleaning - Sorting - Packaging and labeling (in some cases) Transport: by refrigerated/ normal vehicles Marketing of Fruits and vegetables To high-value local markets i.e. Sri Lankan (Airlines) catering - Hotels and restaurants - Departmental Stores Marketed by PAEA (60% of the produce through Value-chain management ) Marketing: Floriculture Exports: Producers on Forwardcontracts with buyers Local Markets: Florists, exhibitions, farm-gate sales

15 Input Supplies (Dominated by the Private Sector) Greenhouse constructions Greenhouse accessories and maintenance Fertilizers Growing media and bags Micro-irrigation Seeds and planting materials Chemical pesticides

16 Research and Developments Thematic Areas Cost effective Greenhouse designing and climate control Plant nutrient management for high yield, quality, FUE and sustainability Variety testing Crop growth physiology Eco-friendly P&D management (Mainly through state funding and in collaboration with the private sector and growers)

18 Institutional Support 1. Technical Support and Input Supplies - PAEA (Protected Culture Entrepreneurs Association) Peradeniya, - CIC, UniPower, Haylese, Agriworld, Sunfrost - Dept. of Agriculture I,e. HORDI, ISTI and AVC 3. R and D - Dept. of Agriculture HORDI, Food Research Unit Universities Peradeniya University 5. Marketing PAEA, Exporters, Other value-chains

19 Constraints Marketing and Exports Low productivity Climate control (i.e. combating high temperature) Unavailability of improved planting materials (For vegetables) and patent barriers (for floriculture) Quality of technical inputs (i.e. plastics, irrigation systems and fertilizers) Waste disposal (in the future) Low investment capacity of small-growers Appropriate IPM strategies Low degree of partnerships for two-way transformation of technical information

A greenhouse is a covered structure which protects plants from vagaries of weather or environment i.e. wind,

A greenhouse is a covered structure which protects plants from vagaries of weather or environment i.e. wind, Protected cultivation is the technique of providing favourable environmental or growth conditions to the plants. In greenhouses, the growing environment is altered to suit the specific requirements of