Recent Developments in Vegetable Production Technologies in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The yields of major vegetables produced in Sri Lanka as at present are 10–70% below the potential yields in countries like Japan, USA, and India. Further, the per capita vegetable consumption in Sri Lanka is 50% lower than the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The vegetable production in Sri Lanka is burdened by decreasing arable lands due to rapid urbanization and ever-increasing demand for food by an exponentially growing population. All the major commercial vegetable-based cropping systems in Sri Lanka predominantly follow the conventional production technologies using agrochemicals. However, there is a growing trend of sustainable vegetable production in organic farms, homegardens, and peri-urban systems. Thus, it is clear that technological innovations are vital in local vegetable cropping to increase yield productivity, production efficiency, food quality, and food safety. Technological trends that would benefit the modern vegetable production in Sri Lanka include rapid multiplication and production of propagules, development of modern nursery techniques, micro irrigation along with fertigation and greenhouse crop production, proper pruning, training and pollination strategies, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Crop Protection Technologies (ICPT), traceability initiatives, and methods to ensure quality and safety of food. Meanwhile, a comparative assessment of the national vegetable subsector with the countries in the region would elucidate the need of immediate attention for further improvements. This emphasizes the need of capitalizing on intensification of cropping systems, viable seed production and quality assurance, restructuring and revitalizing of the research and extension system, etc., with a view to ensure the sustainable production of high-quality vegetables.