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Crop Diversification in the Asia-Pacific region - United Nations in ...

Crop Diversification in the Asia-Pacific region - United Nations in ...

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Figure 3. Schematic Representation of <strong>the</strong> Different <strong>Diversification</strong> Patterns<strong>in</strong> Paddy Lands <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Intermediate ZoneSep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun. Jul. Aug.In <strong>the</strong> upcountry <strong>in</strong>termediate zone, potato is <strong>the</strong> major crop that covers a large extentof cultivated lands. O<strong>the</strong>r dom<strong>in</strong>ant vegetables are tomato, beans, carrot, cabbage, beetrootand leeks. Presently, part of <strong>the</strong> extent under potato has been diversified <strong>in</strong>to vegetables.Potato is not cultivated <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> mid country <strong>in</strong>termediate zone and onion, tomato,cabbage, tobacco, beans, shallots and capsicum are <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>cipal crops found <strong>in</strong> this pattern.Cucumber, gourds, long beans, okra and capsicum are <strong>the</strong> lead<strong>in</strong>g vegetables grown <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>low country. Melon is <strong>the</strong> only fruit crop cultivated <strong>in</strong> this part of <strong>the</strong> diversification pattern(Figure 3).3.4 Wetland Rice Fields <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Low Country Wet Zone (LCWZ)In <strong>the</strong> low country wet zone <strong>the</strong>re are 8,681 ha under major irrigation schemes,18,016 ha under m<strong>in</strong>or schemes and 68,118 ha under ra<strong>in</strong>fed conditions. The average yieldof rice <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>region</strong> is about 3,000 kg/ha and it has become uneconomical to cultivate ricedue to <strong>the</strong> high cost of production. Also, this area represents <strong>the</strong> densely populated <strong>region</strong>where about 40 percent of <strong>the</strong> total population of <strong>the</strong> country are found.A major portion of <strong>the</strong> paddy lands <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> wet zone is very poorly dra<strong>in</strong>ed and henceunsuitable for upland crop cultivation. The upper order valleys of coarse textured soils arefairly well dra<strong>in</strong>ed and <strong>the</strong>se soils are presently used for crop diversification. Apart from <strong>the</strong>prevail<strong>in</strong>g soil physical status, crop selection seems to be dependent on <strong>the</strong> availability ofmarket<strong>in</strong>g facilities. In close proximity to urban centres, leafy vegetables are predom<strong>in</strong>antlycultivated, as <strong>the</strong>se fetch a high price and <strong>the</strong> crops can be grown throughout <strong>the</strong> year. O<strong>the</strong>rcrops cultivated <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> low country wet zone are <strong>the</strong> root and tuber crops (coleus and sweetpotato), and vegetables such as long bean, bitter gourd and okra (Figure 4). Banana is <strong>the</strong>major fruit crop grown <strong>in</strong> this area.119

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