Abstract:
Cabbage is one of the most nutritious vegetables grown in Sri Lanka. Although, they
are successfully grown in up country areas of Sri Lanka, recent studies have shown
that there is a potential to grow cabbages in low country too. Therefore, this study
aims to assess the economic viability of growing cabbage in protected houses with
and without artificial lights in low country wet zone in Sri Lanka. The benefit-cost
ratio was used to assess the economic viability of cabbage cultivation. The variable
costs (agricultural inputs, labor and utility) and revenues were calculated to determine
the benefit-cost ratio. The results revealed that benefit-cost ratio (revenue/variable
cost) per unit area of cabbage cultivation without and with artificial lights are 0.56
and 0.60 respectively excluding the labor cost. Additionally, the benefit-cost ratio per
unit area of cabbage cultivation without and with artificial lights are 0.31 and 0.38
respectively including the labor cost. Therefore, cabbage cultivation with artificial
lights has a higher benefit-cost ratio than cabbage cultivation without artificial lights.
However, temperature reducing mechanisms and installing renewable energy systems
(i.e., solar power) are good alternatives in constructing protected houses in low
country wet zone in Sri Lanka to reduce the cost and obtain more economic
advantages.
