Abstract:
Sri Lanka has been identified as a reliable supplier of good quality floriculture products
worldwide. Dracaena sanderiana is an attractive foliage plant with a high demand in export
market. Though export-oriented D. sanderiana cultivations are limited to wet zone in Sri Lanka
the supply from the country still has not catered the demand. This study aims to identify the future
potentials and challenges of introducing D. sanderiana to Hambantota district as commercial
foliage. Randomly selected 40 flower growers from Sooriyawewa, Thissamaharama, Hambantota
and Beliatta Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) were interviewed administrating a pretested
semi structured questionnaire during early 2022. According to the findings, majority (60%) of
them grow floriculture crops as a full-time employment and middle-aged females were widely
engaged in floriculture operations. Seventy percent (70%) of the respondents were willing to
include D. sanderiana as a new floriculture crop to their nurseries with required support since
they (50%) have excess lands (up to 0.25 acres) with natural shade. Sixty percent (60%) of them
preferred to train on value addition of D. sanderiana by knitting. and were willing to enter to
export oriented market channels. Fifteen percent (15%) of them had already established shade
net houses and other infrastructure. The Dracaena grower society in Beliatta DSDs is ready to
share their experience with new growers. Respondents understand the importance of marketing
the product as a group to reduce the transportation cost. Major challenge was the initial
investments on growth structures, net houses, and irrigation. Most of the growers (70%) were
expecting financial support from the government. Lack of awareness of the crop husbandry, low
availability of planting materials, increased transportation costs and low availability of fertilizer
and fungicide in the markets were other challenges. Awareness and training programs,
production assistance, trading facilities and credit support is required to introduce D. sanderiana
as a successful future export crop to Hambantota district. Further research activities are
suggested to identify the best growth conditions of D. sanderiana in Hambantota district prior to
export level operations
