11.07.2015 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Figure 4. Schematic Representation of <strong>the</strong> Different <strong>Diversification</strong> Patterns<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Low Country Wet ZoneSep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun. Jul. Aug.Table 5 shows <strong>the</strong> costs and returns of this diversified system.Table 5. Cost and Returns of Diversified <strong>Crop</strong>p<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Low Country Wet ZoneIndicator Paddy Vegetables Coleus Leafy VegetablesTotal cost Rs/ha 334,625.00 76,175.00 97,530.00 275,298.00Gross returns Rs/ha 32,856.00 303,500.00 144,738 397,943.00Returns to land Rs/ha 6,055.00 226,883.00 47,208.00 122,645.00Returns to capital unit 1.51 4.72 2.51 1.59Returns to labourRs/manday213 954.00 318.00 250.00The table clearly shows that returns to <strong>the</strong> land are negative <strong>in</strong> rice whereas all <strong>the</strong>o<strong>the</strong>r alternative crops give higher returns. Returns to capital and labour are more favourable<strong>in</strong> vegetable and Innala (coleus) cultivation.3.5 <strong>Diversification</strong> <strong>in</strong> Mid Country Marg<strong>in</strong>al Tea and Rubber LandsThe seedl<strong>in</strong>g tea plantations became marg<strong>in</strong>ally productive <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> mid country wetzone due to <strong>the</strong> decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> tea prices, rise of <strong>in</strong>put costs and also due to <strong>the</strong> soil degradationaggravated by soil erosion. Some of <strong>the</strong>se lands were replanted with vegetatively propagatedtea and a part of <strong>the</strong>se lands was shifted to export crops, ma<strong>in</strong>ly pepper, cloves and cocoa.Similarly, poorly managed rubber plantations also became marg<strong>in</strong>al with <strong>the</strong>reduction <strong>in</strong> prices as <strong>the</strong> demand for natural rubber was reduced. The cost of production also<strong>in</strong>creased due to <strong>the</strong> high wage rates and <strong>the</strong>se conditions led <strong>the</strong> rubber smallholder towithdraw from rubber and shift towards vegetatively propagated tea cultivation.3.6 <strong>Diversification</strong> Around Upland <strong>Crop</strong>sA diversification trend was observed <strong>in</strong> some upland crops such as cowpea, onion,gherk<strong>in</strong>, potato and chillies dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> past few years. This was ma<strong>in</strong>ly due to <strong>the</strong> decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>prices ow<strong>in</strong>g to over-production of crops, cheap importation and shr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g of export markets.120

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!