Abstract
Unavailability of good quality seeds of recommended big onion varieties is a major constraint for increasing the productivity of big onion cultivation in Sri Lanka. The purpose of this study was to investigate the financial feasibility of big onion production using domestically produced true seeds at farmer level. The specific objectives of the study were to compare big onion yields obtained using local and imported true seeds, compare the financial viability of big onion production using local and imported true seeds and to assess the financial viability of local true seed production in Matale district. A production function was estimated to achieve the first objective and cost benefit analysis was conducted to achieve the second and third objectives. Primary data were collected from 144 big onion farmers and 74 big onion seed farmers in Matale district. The production function estimates showed that the yield with local true seeds was 1.32 times higher than that obtained from imported true seeds. The profitability of big onion cultivation with local true seeds and imported true seeds were Rs. 27.69 and 12.95 per kg, respectively, in Yala 2009. The profitability of local true seed production was Rs. 4,497 per kg in Maha 2008/09. These results indicate that true seed production is financially feasible at farmer level and commercial big onion production using local true seed is more financially attractive when compared to that of imported true seeds. <br /><br /><strong>Key words:</strong> Big onion seeds; Cost benefit analysis; Financial viability. <br /><br />DOI: 10.4038/tar.v22i1.2675<br /><br /><em>Tropical Agricultural Research</em> Vol. 22 (1): 107-112 (2010)<br /><br />
Highlights
Big onion is an important cash crop cultivated in Sri Lanka
A stratified random sampling technique was adopted to draw commercial big onion farmers and big onion seed farmers from the above three Agrarian Service Centre (ASC) areas based on the land extent cultivated and the quantity of mother bulbs established in the field, respectively (Table 1)
This study assessed the financial viability of big onion true seed production and commercial big onion production using locally produced true seeds in Matale district
Summary
Big onion is an important cash crop cultivated in Sri Lanka. Local production of big onion, which is approximately 81,707 MT per year, is not sufficient to meet the annual demand of big onion approximately 203,993 MT per year (DCS, 2009). Unavailability of good quality seeds of recommended varieties in adequate quantities is considered as the main constraint for increasing production of big onion in Sri Lanka (Mettananda, 2006). The quality of the imported big onion true seeds is not up to standard as they reach the country through illegal routes due to export restrictions in India (Edirimanna, 2003). With the aim of increasing the availability of good quality true seeds in Sri Lanka, the Department of Agriculture (DOA) has implemented a programme in Matale and Anuradhapura districts to enhance big onion true seed production among big onion farmers (DOA, 2004). Due to the inadequacy of domestic seed and relatively high prices of domestically produced true seed, more than 70% of farmers still use imported true seeds despite their poor quality
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