Abstract:
Annual production of potato in Sri Lanka has not been adequate to meet the
increasing local demand. Therefore, the local consumption is partly satisfied with
imported potato. Potato is mainly cultivated in Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and Jaffna.
Tellipalai, Urumpirai, Puthur, Chunnakam and Kopay are large scale potato
cultivation areas in Jaffna. Therefore, the study was conducted to identify the
constraints of production and marketing of Potato, to find the available supply
chain and to analyze the market margin and to give the recommendation to
overcome these constraints. A case study was conducted in Urumpirai and Puthur
GN Divisions. Thirty-five potato farmers were interviewed from each study area
comprised a total of 70 respondents using a simple random sampling technique.
Primary data were collected through pre-tested questionnaire and informal
discussions. Secondary data were collected from journals, articles and internet.
Results showed that 50% of farmers are cultivating only 0.25ha even though they
have a large extent of arable land 1.5ha. Potato is cultivated only in Maha season in
Jaffna. Most of the farmers are having own land and they have 30 to 35 years’
experience in potato cultivation. Moreover, the study revealed that 65% of potato
farmers are accessing the pawning system for their capital requirement. Out of
different seed varieties, the majority (44%) of potato farmers’ seed preference is
Sasi. Their average transport cost was Rs.220kg/gunny bag through lorry. Major
Production constraint identified was lack of seed access (44%) followed by the
inadequate high cost of cultivation (28%) and unfavorable climate condition and
disease (17%). Among the problems related to lack of seed access, seed purchasing
at a high price (63%) and quality of seeds (3%) ranked as the main. Marketing
constraints highlighted by the respondents are importation of potato (31%), low
price (30%), intermediaries (21%), high transport cost (10%) and time consuming
for transportation (8%). There were three main marketing channels and the most
profitable one was selected based on the Marketing efficiency. Increase seed
subsidies, seeds distribute at right time, increase the extension services, control the
importation of potato during the harvesting period, government directly deal with
potato farmers and increase the awareness about the marketing and market
information’s are the main recommendations given by the study.