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Experiences on Pepper cultivation as an intercrop
Remaining part of the land has been dedicated to pepper cultivations. It is about two and half acres. As sooner as the opinion has been settles in the mind, discussions on suitability of the area for pepper were held with several peoples. Then, extension service officer from department of export agriculture has been consulted for confirmation of acquired knowledge from general public. Based on the factors such as prices, demand and yield, pepper cultivation as an intercrop has been further encouraged.
Thanks to extension officer, pepper cultivation has been done successfully. His advices and assistance from his capacity were very useful for this new cultivation. He assisted to purchase plants on concessionary prices from a nursery maintained under their supervision. Further, he helped to find information on availability of compost as well as basic fertilizers. He guided on land preparation including digging pits, methods of planting, distance from plants to plants and placing supporting posts.
Finding labourto dig pits was very difficult. The next difficult task was to find suitable Ginisiriya with a 6 and half feet length as supporting sticks. The cost of ginisiriya stick was 30 rupees per piece. The first lot of Ginisiriya, provided by a person, was useless. Cost incurred to purchase them was lost. It is necessary to inspect the item before purchasing it. Further, another problem was that workers did not follow instruction given. This cause to dry some piece of Ginisiriya. For such an agricultural work, suitable, knowledgeable and obedient workers are suggested. Supervision of the planter is compulsory.
Irrigational facilities are mostly defended on climate, topography and availability of major irrigational projects run or build by government. Serious draught damages the cultivation totally. As an example, pepper cultivation in this land exposed to draught conditions and dried about 300 plants. To secure the plants, water was provided by carrying water barrels on shoulders. It was tedious work. Proper dripped irrigational system was suggested for the pepper cultivation at that time, but it was very expensive. Therefore, it was abandoned initially. However, such an irrigational system is recommended for a cultivation with severely draught affecting arears. To secure the plants from dry weather, it is not recommended clearing bushed closed to the root of plant.
Pigs loitering at the night in the land will pull out the plant to eat ants or worms living around the plants. Some time, this damage will be huge one if suitable action has not been taken.
Preperation of pepper seeds by Sri Lankan rural farmers for sale or to consume >>