Problems encountered in the onion cultivation of the Dambulla area

Problems encountered in the onion plant plant plant plant plant plant plant plant plant plant plant plant culture of the Dambulla argona outstanding onion wander was introduced to Sri Lanka by the British in 1855 and commercial goal was introduced by the Department of Agriculture during the 1950s and over the by historic period, the crop performance was evaluated in some(prenominal) parts of the country and it was observed that grownup onions fucking be grown economic in all in ally during every Maha season in almost all parts of the country.2. However, at present the nicety of astronomical onion is confined completely to Matale, Anuradhapura, Puthalama, Pollonnaruwa, Mahawelli and Jaffna Districts. More than 50% of the total onion production in Sri Lanka is cultivated from the Matale District.13. The regime strives to achieve a ego sufficient st mature in the production of better-looking onions since Sri Lanka spends a authoritative amount of cash outf woeful every year on the importation of the oversize onions. Meanwhile, in the recent away it has been noticed that the declamatory onion production has been moved(p) in Sri Lanka and therefrom customers be as well nonrecreational a uplifteder harm for the monstrous onions. In particular the big onion production in Dambulla range has been declining in the last few years.AIM OF THE RESEARCH4. The Dambulla bailiwick plays an signifi croupet role in the big onion acculturation in Sri Lanka. The political sympathies has been paying little c be and permit on promoting the big onion production in Dambulla. hence, it has so happened that the onion production in Dambulla has declined in the recent past as a consequence of the governings slight bet on for this sector. Therefore, the main purpose of this cogitation is to promote the big onion goal in the Dambulla atomic number 18a.OBJECTIVESGeneral Objectives5. This interrogation is carried out with the undermenti su perstard specific and general accusatives.a. The main general objective of this study is to identify the main problems encountered in the onion gardening of the Dambulla sphere of influence. particularized objective6. The specific objective of this study is to give the recommendation to mend the Big onion shade in the Dambulla ara and specific objectives are as fol downhearteds.a. To study the recent history of Big onion nuance in Dambulla area and to compare the present situation of the Big Onion nicety.b. To identify the main issues encountered in big onion subtlety in Dambulla.c. To identify the critical contributing factors.d. To make recommendations based on the take placeings.CHAPTER 2METHODOLOGYHYPOTHESIS1. Low yield of onion industry in Dambulla is due to less assistance of the government sectorSTATEMENT OF THE worry2. The Matale District plays an important role in the big onion cultivation in Sri Lanka in particular Dambulla provides big onions for the Sri Lanka ns consumption. In the recent past due to the neglect of support from the government sector the big onion cultivation has been declining.3. As a result the big onion cultivation in Dambulla will be non existence in the very abutting future. Furthermore, umpteen farmers depend on the big onion cultivation as their livelihood in Dambulla. Hence, if the big onion cultivation in Dambulla is abnormal numerous families will lose their income and it will affect the survival of many families. and so the deficiency of support from the government and the consequent less onion cultivation are considered as the research problem for this study.SCOPE OF THE contract4. This research studies the declining stage of the onion cultivation in Dambulla. The scope covers only the Dambulla area of big onion farmers. Therefore, this research has been express to the onion farmers of the Dambulla area. data COLLECTION METHODSa. Primary information . Structured questionnaires were hired to collect the data. These questionnaires dwell of 2 parts they are Part I the factors determining the big onion cultivation in Dambulla and Part II the own(prenominal) profile. The beginning part comprises instructions of two study factors which come across the big onion cultivation in Dambulla poor property of semens and the lack of plant food support. To identify the responses the questionnaire in part I applied the Likert scale of 1 5, which ranges from Strongly resist to Strongly Agree. The sec part included the personal profile of the respondents relating to age, sex, well-bred placement and number of years the farmer has been in cultivation.b. Secondary Data. In sum to primary data, secondary data withal was smooth for this research. It was compile by referring to the reports from the sylvan Department and from the Department of Census and Statistics.SAMPLE OF THE interpret7. This research studies the factors influencing the decline of the big onion cultivation in Dambulla. Therefore, the responses were collected from the local onion farmers from the Dambulla area. Thus, one C big onion farmers were considered as a sample for this study since all farmers could not be accessible inside the limited time for this study. These farmers were selected in a ergodic basis. Therefore, the simple random sampling method was applied for the selection of the sample.LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY8. The following limitations were encountered in the study.a. Time is limited, so that within the limited time the research has to be finished because of this in-depth analysis endurenot be applied.b. The researcher encountered limitation of resources.c. The sample was limited only to ascorbic acid farmers.LITERATURE REVIEW9. The big onion is an important minor crop consumed by many Sri Lankans and it has been estimated that 34,000 metric tons of onion is imported annually and Sri Lanka spends around 300 million rupees on onion importation (Gunawardena, 2009). Further more, it has been also estimated that 45,000 labour units are employed in the onion cultivation and production annually by Sri Lankans and therefore, it increases income and employment generation for many Sri Lankans.210. Many countries worldwide are observeting involved in the big onion production. In particular they are Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, India, Pakistan and so on(Research Institute for Ve prepareable crops, 2006).11. correspond to Shanmugasundaram (2001) there are varieties of onion and it mainly includes the sweet, red, white, yellow, brown and green etc.TYPES OF onion plant address Shanmugasundaram (2008)BENEFITS OF ONION mathematical product12. Furthermore, it has been set that the big onion production brings several comparative benefits when compared to with other crops (Autko Moisevich, 2006). many of the benefits are disposed down the stairs.a. Output can be obtained in a short stream of time.b. Initial costs such as sow ins costs, fe rtilizer costs are comparatively less.c. It does not require a set cost.d. Less technology the machines are sufficient.e. High employability of manual labourers.f. Easy to find markets.g. Less terminal period.13. The onion basically has been divided into red onions and big onions and each course requires varied eco-agricultural conditions, labour, fertilizer, weather and climatic conditions, temperature, etc.REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR THE ONION PRODUCTION14. The literature suggests diametric requirements for smooth growing of the big onion production. Some of the conditions suggested by Autko and Moisevich (2006) are disposed below.a. growth of fertile soil layers in the zone of plant root by 4-6 cmb. Increase of aeration and thawing of soil, excluding over wetting in the period of heavy precipitationc. falloff of fertilizer rate masking by 30%d. minify of seed sowing ratese. Ensuring of looser soil state during the whole period of ve go aboutationf. hypothes is of soil surface copying by working organs of machines, during inter-row treatment, wakeless of plant protective zone 3-5 cm, mechanical weed destruction by 70-75% and band application of pesticides that witnesss the decrease of their rates by 2-3 timesg. Increase of irrigation efficiencyh. Diminution of nitrate content in the productionj. Decrease of energy expense during return-timeing by 20-40%.15. Therefore, the above conditions can be considered as the basic requirements for the growth and survival of the big onion production.16. The onion basically has been divided into red onions and large onions and each concoction requires different eco-agricultural conditions, labour, fertilizer, weather and climatic conditions, temperature, etc.DECEASES IN THE ONION CULTIVATION17. Shanmugasundaram, (2001) has identified the following diseases that affect the onion cultivation. He has divided these deceases into two.a. Field diseasesb. retentiveness diseases18. The field diseases c omprises of Stemphylium blight , Purple blotch, Anthracnose, Botrytis leaf blight, Downy mildew, Pink root, Smudge, filthiness and several Basal rots (Shanmugasundaram, 2001).19. The storage diseases covers common field rots, botrytis neck rot, opprobrious mold and bacterial soft rot (Shanmugasundaram, 2001).PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE BIG ONION CULTIVATION IN SRI LANKA20. Meanwhile it has been learned that in the recent past the onion cultivation has been reducing as a result of many factors. Some factors identified by Kulatunga (2006) are presented below.a. neglect of quality seedsb. Lack of advice given for application of seedsc. Insufficient loan facilities on tap(predicate) to procure last quality seedsd. Long durations taken for harvesting from seedse. Lack of government support in providing fertilizer facilities to the onion productionf. Lack of quality fertilizers available for the onion producersg. Lack of accessibility of fertilizer at outside and hidden outlets h. Absence of hash out and advice given on how to apply the fertilizers for the sassy conformationj. Lack of storage facilities to stemma the onion production.21. Though these problems are encountered in the onion production it can be divided into two major categories. These are given below.a. Lack of government support in bad seeds to the onion cultivators.b. Lack of government support to provide fertilizer to onion cultivation.LACK OF GOVERNMENT accompaniment TO SEEDS22. It has been observed that big onion cultivation has been change to greater extent by the lack of government pauperism in finding required seeds. Thus lack of quality seeds, lack of management and advise on applying seeds, lack of freshly variety of seeds, wanting(p) government financial support to purchase seeds, absence of assurance on harvesting duration etc are encountered under seeds (Kulatunga, 2006).LACK OF FERTILIZER SUPPORT23. Kulatunga (2006) has also identified that there is no sufficient fert ilizer support to motivate the big onion production. In Sri Lanka it has been learned that the onion farmers lack government funding and gunslingersidies to debase fertilizers. Furthermore, fertilizer is sold at a fairly game price in the outside outlets. In addition the efficient and harvest stimulating fertilizers are not available for the onion farmers. Also the amply quality and different variety of fertilizers are also not available to increase the big onion cultivation in the Dambulla area.INCREASING BIG ONION PRODUCTION24. It is therefore important that the onion production is increased in order to protect the big onion industry and to assure the livelihood of many Sri Lankans. Hence the literature suggests that the following measures can increase the onion production.a. Involving in research and development activities in order to increase the onion production.b. Government providing support to find high quality seeds.c. Government has to give seeds of the unexampled var ieties.d. Government has to provide seeds at subsidized prices.e. Government has to provide constant counselling and advice on use seeds.f. Government has to extend the fertilizer aid.g. Providing high quality fertilizer.h. Monitoring fertilizer dissemination.j. Counselling on handling diseases.Conceptual model25. From the literature freshen up the following conceptual model has been developed.Figure 3.1 Conceptual Model lessen onion cultivationLack of fertilizer availablenessLack of seed approachability( ascendant Formed for this Research Study)26. The above figure depicts two sets of factors that determine the decrease in the onion cultivation the lack of seed handiness and the lack of fertilizer availability. This was derived from Kulatunga (2006). Each set of the major factors have sub factors. Therefore, these two are considered as the independent variables. The decreasing onion cultivation can be identified as the dependent variable. Hence, this figure establishes conn ect between the factors and the decreasing onion cultivation. Through this research study one need to know which factor(s) cause for the decreasing onion cultivation, among the farmers in the Dambulla area. carry over 2.1 Operationalization of VariablesConceptsVariablesIndicatorsLevel of MeasurementQuestion No.Factors determining the onion cultivationLack of seeds availabilityReceiving high quality seedsLikertQ1 dispersion of seeds by the governmentLikertQ2 grooming of subsidy by the government to misdirect seeds regularlyLikertQ3Seeds braggart(a) the evaluate harvestLikertQ4 purchase seeds from the Government outlandish DepartmentLikertQ5Provision of training and counselling regarding the new seeds by the governmentLikertQ6I can hit new varieties of seedsLikertQ7I can get regular counselling and advice of the diseases on the seedsLikertQ8Lack of fertilizers availabilityFertilizer subsidy from the governmentLikertQ9Purchase of fertilizer from the Government Agricultural Departm entLikertQ10Purchase of fertilizer from the clannish outlets at a less priceLikertQ11Getting high quality fertilizerLikertQ12Getting advice and counselling for the application of fertilizersLikertQ13Getting different variety of fertilizersLikertQ14Getting fertilizer that can maximize the harvestLikertQ15Storage of overplus fertilizer for future useLikertQ16( reservoir Formed for this research study)selective information paygrade27. The guess and amount excursus were derived for data analysis. Furthermore, the criteria shown in the table below was adopted to evaluate the soaked determine. accede 2.2 Evaluation Criteria for Mean setRangeDegree13.67Low aimModerate takeHigh level witnesser Developed for this studyCHAPTER THREEDATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS1. This chapter covers the data presentation, analysis and discussion.DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS2. This section presents remember and ensample deviation of the factors affecting the onion cultivation in Dambulla. The stiff quantifys have been divvy upd based on Likerts Scale of one to flipper which represents Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree. Meanwhile, misbegot values were evaluated based on the already established evaluative criteria which range from low level to high level.Table 3.1 the values of mean and tired deviation (SD) of factors contributing to the onion cultivationStatementsFrom current staffMeanSDLack of seed availability1.90.25Lack of fertilizer availability2.24.41Source mountain Data3. Table 3.1 represents values of mean and model deviation of factors contributing to the decreasing level of the onion cultivation. The mean value of the seed availability is 1.90 and the quantity deviation is 0.25. Since the mean value of seed availability (1.90) is less than 2.33, it falls into the category of low level gratification4. Meanwhile, the mean value of fertilizer availability is 2.24 and pattern deviation for the same variable is 0.41. Thus, the mean value of fertilizer availabil ity (2.24) is less than 2.33 and it also falls under low level of satisfaction.Table 3.2 the mean and standard deviation values for the reports in the seed availabilityStatementsMeanSDI get high quality seeds1.88.89Government distribute seeds1.94.81Government provides a subsidy to spoil seeds regularly1.74.69Seeds give an expected harvest1.56.61We can profane seeds from the Government Agricultural Department2.16.86Government provides training and counselling regarding the new seeds2.12.91I can get new varieties of seeds1.79.55I can get regular counselling and advice of the diseases in the seeds1.85.45Source cogitation Data5. Table 3.2 shows the mean and standard deviation values for the statements in the seeds availability. As presented above, all eight statements that measure seed availability for the onion farmers in the Dambulla area have taken the mean values of less than 2.33. Therefore, it can be derived that farmers satisfaction on all statements of seed availability fall into the category of overturn level satisfaction.Table 3.3 the mean and standard deviation values for the statements in the fertilizer availabilityStatementsMeanSDI get fertilizer subsidy from the government2.20.92I can buy fertilizer from the Government Agricultural Department2.14.85I can buy fertilizer from private outlets at a less price2.18.99I can get high quality fertilizer2.20.94I get advice and counselling on the application of fertilizer2.15.93I get different variety of fertilizer2.24.84I get fertilizers that can maximize harvest2.12.96I can terminus excess fertilizer for future use2.09.92Source Survey Data6. Table 3.3 reveals the values of mean and standard deviation for the statements in the fertilizer availability. Hence all statements that measure the enchant of fertilizer availability of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area have taken the mean values less than 2.33. Therefore it can be say that the farmers satisfaction towards all statements of fertilizer avail ability fall into the category of low level of satisfaction.Personal profile7. This section presents data on the personal profile of the farmers in the Dambulla area. It covers age, sex, civil status and the number of years of perplex in the onion cultivation of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area.Age DistributionFig 3.1 the age distribution of the onion farmers in the Dambulla areaSource Survey DataTable 3.4 the age distribution of the onion farmers in the Dambulla areaAge categoryFrequencyPercentLess than 25303026-35282835-452424 in a higher place 451818Total100100Source Survey Data8. Fig 3.1 shows the age distribution of the respondents from onion farmers in the Dambulla area. Thirty percent of the respondents are less than 25 years and the respondents falling into the category of 26 35 and 35 45 are 28% and 24%, respectively and 82% of the respondents are less than the age of 45. just now 18% of the responded onion farmers are above the age of 45. Hence it reveals a fa ct that the majority of the onion framers in Dambulla are less than the age of 45.9. Therefore it can be concluded that most of the young employees are run aground to be faced with a decreasing level of onion production.Sex DistributionFig. 3.2 Sex distribution of the onion farmers in the Dambulla areaSource Survey DataTable 3.5 Sex distribution of the onion farmers in the Dambulla areaSex categoryFrequencyPercent staminate6868Female person3232Total100100Source Survey Data10. Fig 3.2 shows the sex distribution of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area. Sixty-eight percent of the responded onion farmers in the Dambulla area are male and 32% of the responded onion farmers are female.11. This shows that most of the male onion farmers in the Dambulla area are found to be impact with a decreasing level of onion cultivation the Dambulla area.Civil statusFig 3.3 Civil status of the onion farmers in the Dambulla areaSource Survey DataTable 3.6 Civil status of the onion farmers in the D ambulla areaCivil statusFrequencyPercentSingle3838Married6262Total100100Source Survey Data12. Fig 3.3 shows the civil status of the responded onion farmers in the Dambulla area. Sixty-two percent of the respondents are married and 38% are single.13. It is clear that most of the married onion farmers in the Dambulla area are found to be facing the problem of a decreasing level of onion cultivation the Dambulla area.Distribution of years of experienceFig. 3.4 Number of years of experience in the onion cultivationSource Survey DataTable 3.7 Number of years of experience in the onion cultivationNumber of years of experienceFrequencyPercentLess than 320203-546466-103030 in a higher place 1044Total100100Source Survey Data14. Fig 3.4 shows the number of years of experience in the onion cultivation of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area. Accordingly, 20 % of the responded onion farmers in the Dambulla area have less than 3 years of experience and the responded onion farmers in the Dam bulla falling into the category of 3 5 and 6 10 years are 46% and 30%, respectively. Only 4% of the responded onion farmers have the experience of above 10 years. Thus, more than 95% of the responded onion farmers in the Dambulla area have less than 10 years of experience.15. Therefore it can be stated that the most of the onion farmers in the Dambulla area who have an experience of less than 10 years are found to be encountering the problem of a decreasing level of onion cultivation in the Dambulla area.CHAPTER FOURDISCUSSION AND ARGUMENTS1. This chapter provides the discussion on analysis. It presents the mean and the standard deviation of the two factors contributing to the onion cultivation.Table 4.1 Mean and standard deviation values for the statements in the seed availabilityStatementsMeanSDI get high quality seeds1.88.89Government distribute seeds1.94.81Government provides the subsidy to buy seeds regularly1.74.69Seeds give the expected harvest1.56.61We can buy seeds from t he Government Agricultural Department2.16.86Government provides training and counselling regarding the new seeds2.12.91I can get new varieties of seeds1.79.55I can get regular counselling and advise on the diseases in the seeds1.85.45Source Survey Data2. As presented in Table 4.1 the onion farmers have uttered their lower level of satisfaction on all statements of the availability of seeds and the quality, because all mean values are under the category of 1 2.33.3. Thus the first statement I get high quality seeds has taken a mean value of 1.88 which represents that the onion farmers are not extremely satisfied with the availability of the high quality seeds.4. Similarly the second statement Government distribute seeds has taken a mean value of 1.94 and this also comes under the lower level of satisfaction. This reflects that the government does not distribute seeds and therefore it also affects their onion cultivation.5. Third statement Government provides the subsidy to buy see ds regularly has taken a mean value of 1.79 which represents that the onion farmers are not satisfied with the governments subsidies to buy the seeds.6. Fourth statement Seeds gives the expected harvest has taken a mean value of 1.56 which reflects that the onion farmers are less satisfied with the amount of harvest from the seeds and this affect the onion cultivation from the Dambulla area.7. fifth statement We can buy seeds from the Government Agricultural Department has given a mean value of 2.16 which shows that the onion farmers are ineffectual to purchase seeds from the agricultural surgical incision and this also reduces the onion cultivation.8. Next statement Government provides training and counselling regarding the new seeds has obtained a mean value of 2.12 which indicates that the onion cultivators do not get sufficient training and counselling from the germane(predicate) authorities on how to apply the new varieties of seeds and this affects the onion cultivation in th e Dambulla area.9. 7th statement I can get new varieties of seeds has authentic a mean value of 1.79 and this refers that the farmers are unable to get new varieties of seeds and therefore the onion production has come down in Dambulla.10. The terminal statement I can get regular counselling and advice on the diseases in the seeds has given a mean value of 1.85 which signifies that the onion farmers do not get regular counselling and advice on new diseases affecting the onion cultivation. Therefore, they are unable to protect the onion cultivation and ensure higher growth.Table 4.2 Mean and standard deviation values for the statements in the fertilizer availabilityStatementsMeanSDI get the fertilizer subsidy from government2.20.92I can buy fertilizer from Government Agricultural Department2.14.85I can buy fertilizer from the private outlets at a less price2.18.99I can get high quality fertilizer2.20.94I get advice and counselling on the application of fertilizer2.15.93I get differ ent variety of fertilizers2.24.84I get fertilizer that can maximize the harvest2.12.96I can store the excess fertilizer for future use2.09.92Source Survey Data11. As in Table 4.2 the onion cultivators have indicated lower level of satisfaction on all statements of fertilizer availability because the mean in all comes under the category of 1 2.33.12. Thus the first statement I get the fertilizer subsidy from government has taken a mean value of 2.20 and this means that the onion farmers do not get fertilizer subsidy to buy the fertilizer and this leads towards less onion cultivation.13. Similarly the second statement I can buy fertilizer from the Government Agricultural Department. has taken a mean value of 2.14 and this falls under the lower level of satisfaction. This reflects that the farmers are unable to purchase fertilizer from the agricultural department and has limited capacity of increasing their production.14. Third statement I can buy the fertilizer from private outlets at a less price has taken a mean value of 2.18 stating that the onion farmers cannot buy fertilizer at a less price from other outside outlets. Therefore, it has affected their capacity of the onion cultivation.15. Next statement I can get high quality fertilizer has taken a mean value of 2.20 which represents that the onion farmers are finding difficulties in purchasing fertilizer that can maximize their harvest and it has reduced the onion cultivation.16. 5th statement I get advice and counselling on the application of fertilizer has given a mean value of 2.15, indicating that the farmers are unable to get advise and counselling on how to use different varieties of fertilizer. This has limited the onion cultivation in Dambulla.17. 6th statement I get different variety of fertilizer has obtained a mean value of 2.24 which indicates that the onion cultivators are unable to find different varieties and new varieties of fertiliser that stimulate more harvest. As a result the onion cul tivation has been less in the Dambulla area.18. 7th statement I get fertilizer that can maximize the harvest has accepted a mean value of 2.12 and it means that the onion farmers are unable to find fertiliser that can give the optimal harvest and this has affected the onion cultivation from Dambulla.19. The final statement I can store excess fertilizer for future use has given a mean value of 2.09 which indicates that the onion farmers do not have facilities of storage and holding fertilizer for future use. Therefore, their fertilizer utilization is not optimal. Therefore the onion cultivation has been limited in Dambulla.CHAPTER FIVEFINDINGS/RESULTS1. This chapter provides the findings and the discussions. It presents the mean andthe standard deviation of the two factors contributing to the onion cultivation.Table 5.1 Values of mean and standard deviation