Production practices and profitability of cauliflower (Brassica oleraceae var Botrytis) in Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Kalpitya area belongs to the Agro ecological region low country dry zone and there is an increasingly demand for cultivation of cool season crop, cauliflower. Study was conducted among randomly selected 24 cauliflower cultivating farmers in Puttlam district of Sri Lanka to study cultivation practices and profitability of Cauliflower. The study showed that about 52 % of farmers having the land extent ranging from 0.5 to 1 acre, 8 % of them having more than 1 acre and 40 % of farmers having less than 0.5 acres of land. They intensively cultivated raddish, beet root, chilli, red onion, tobacco, brinjal, okra and tomato. The commonly cultivated cauliflower varieties are Rajadha, Whiteshot, Contra, White green and other hybrids. More than 78 % of farmers cultivated the variety Whiteshot. Farmers are not interested to prepare separate nursery bed for cauliflower and sow seeds in selected place inside the field. They applied cow dung at the rate of 10 mt/ha and transplanted seedlings at the age of 21 to 28 days. They irrigated crops two times per day soon after planting as well as during hot days. Fertilizer application was fallowed as guided by Department of Agriculture. Harvesting was started after the 40 to 45 days of transplanting and continued up to 55 days. The average weights of curd during yala and maha season were 250 -300 grams and 300 to 400 grams respectively. Cargill’s food city has purchased 50 % of the product at farm gate and other markets were Colombo market (30 %) and economic centers (15%) and local market (5%). Market price varies from 100 to 200 rupees depending on quality. The net expenditure and net profit per acre were 83610.00 and 164375.00 rupees respectively.