RICE

Rice is the single most important crop occupying 34 percent (0.77 /million ha) of the total cultivated area in Sri Lanka. On average 560,000 ha are cultivated during maha and 310,000 ha during yala making the average annual extent sown with rice to about 870,000 ha. About 1.8 million farm families are engaged in paddy cultivation island-wide. Sri Lanka currently produces 2.7 million t of rough rice annually and satisfies around 95 percent of the domestic requirement. Rice provides 45% total calorie and 40% total protein requirement of an average Sri Lankan. The per capita consumption of rice fluctuates around 100 kg per year depending on the price of rice, bread and wheat flour.

It is projected that the demand for rice will increase at 1.1% per year and to meet this the rice production should grow at the rate of 2.9% per year. Increasing the cropping intensity and national average yield are the options available to achieve this production targets.

The current cost of production of rough rice is Rs. 8.57 per kg. The cost of labor, farm power and tradable inputs constitutes 55%, 23% and 23% respectively. The labor cost has risen at a higher rate than other costs over the last few years.

While the global demand for rice will increase at 1.95% the production will increase at 1.62% per annum making the tradable rice volume to be doubled in another 20 years time. As a result the rice price would decline at 0.73% per year. On the other hand the domestic price of rice on par with Thai A1 super (the cheapest in the world market) would be higher by 50 -70 USD per t than the internationally traded rice.This situation will place Sri Lanka under increase pressure to produce cheaper and high quality rice in the coming years.

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Dragon Fruit - Hylocereus undatus

A dragon fruit is the fruit of several cactus species, most importantly of the genus Hylocereus. It is native to South and Central America, belong to perennial epiphytic plant. It is also commercially cultivated in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Israel as well as Sri Lanka.

Now dragon fruit is also popularizing in Sri Lanka. It can be cultivated low country wet zone, intermediate zone as well as dry zone with the irrigation facilities. Department of Agriculture is conducting research to improve the cultivation.

Three types of Dragon fruit species.

1.Red colour fruit coat with white colour flesh

2.Red colour fruit coat with red colour flesh

3.Yellow colour fruit coat with white colour flesh

Uses
Dragon fruit is important as a fruits as well as ornamental plant. Ripen fruits can be used directly to consume. Also it can be used for produce jam, ice cream, jelly, fruit juice as well as wine. Dragon fruit buds can be prepared as a curry.

Dragon fruit increases the digesting power of the foods. Also it has ability to control cancer, diabetics, high cholesterol as well as blood pressure.

Nutritional value
The typical nutritional value per 100g of ripen Dragon fruit is as follows

Nutrition	Amount
Water	82.5- 83 g
Protein	0.159- 0.229 g
Fat	0.21- 0.61 g
Fiber	0.7- 0.9 g
Carotene	0.005- 0.012 mg
Calcium	6.3- 8.8 mg
Phosphorus	30.2- 36.1 mg
Iron	0.55- 0.65 mg
Vitamin B	1 0.28- 0.043 mg
Vitamin B	2 0.043- 0.045 mg
Vitamin B	3 0.297- 0.43 mg
Vitamin C	8.0- 9.0 mg
Thaiamin	0.28- 0.30 mg
Riboflavin	0.043- 0.044 mg
Niacin	1.297- 1.30 mg
Ash	0.28 g
Other	0.54- 0.68 g

Ripen fruits are rich in vitamins.

Climatic Conditionn
Dragon fruits can tolerate poor soil conditions and temperature variations.
Tropical climate is good for dragon fruit cultivation. The optimum temperature range is about 20 - 30 oC. Also it needs about 500 1500mm annual rainfall with alternate dry and wet climatic condition. It need good sunlight, but not suitable for long period. At that time shading is important.

Soil and Water
Good drainage system is important to dragon fruit cultivation. 10-30% sandy soils with organic matters provide good condition for plant growth. Sandy soils also suitable for dragon fruit cultivation.

Preparation of Planting Material
1. Planting of cuttings  Common method

2. Seedlings  Seeds can be used to produce seedlings. But, commercially not in used. Because it takes long period as well as it can not continue characteristics of mother plants.

Use cuttings for planting
Obtain cuttings from the selected mother plants.
15 20 cm cuttings are used for planting. Pile up these cutting 1-2 days prior to potting.
Then these cuttings are potted with planting mixture.

Planting mixture
Dry Cow dung          1
Top soil                 1
Sand                    2

Keep these pots with shade place to rooting.
These rooted cuttings are acclimatized before planting infields.

Planting
Planting space is about 2 x 2m.
Pit size is about 60 x 60 x 60cm. These pits are filled by top soil, decomposed cow dung or compost with 10og of super phosphate. To improve the drainage, add small brick pieces and some amount of sand to bottom of the pit.

Training of Plants
Dragon fruit needs support to up right growth. Because wooden or concrete column can be used. Immature stem must be tied to that column. But thereafter aerial roots developed and bound to column. Lateral shoots must be limited and 2-3 main stems are allowed to grow. Because lateral shoots bust be removed time to time. It is important to arrange round metal frame to maintain balanced shrub. Because it spread the hanging shoots balance way.


Removing of lateral buds

Inducing lateral branches
Disease
Specially, in dragon fruits, a lesser amount of pest and disease are there. But funfi diseases have been recorded in some countries.

Flowering

Dragon fruit flower bloom at night and it is off white in colour. Their fragrant helps to pest attraction. In intermediate zone, flowering will initiate at April/ May period. Due to beauty of the flower, these flowers also named as Queen of night, Moon flower and Nobal woman.

Fruiting
Fruits will be matured 30 -35 days after flowering. Fruiting period will continue up to November. Harvesting can be done six times with in this period.

Outer cover of immature is in bright green colour. It will become red in colour with ripening. Proper time of harvesting is after four days of colour changing. But for export purpose, it is important to harvesting a day after colour changing.

Fertilizer Application
Dragon fruit forest related plant belong to family Cactaceae. Therefore it needs water and fertilizer. It is newly introduced plant for cultivation. Thus hasnt recommended fertilizer mixture yet. But good result can be obtained by applying below mentioned fertilizer mixtures.

Organic Fertilizer
Organic fertilizer is very important to proper growth and development of dragon fruit plant. Because apply 15kg of organic fertilizer per plant and increase the amount by 2kg per year up to 20kg.

Inorganic Fertilizer
For vegetative stage
Apply below mentioned fertilizer mixture each four months.

• Urea - 72 g
• Super phosphate - 88 g
• Muriate of potash - 40 g

For bearing trees
It is important to apply low amount of nitrogen and high amount of potash for obtain ample yield. Apply below mentioned mixture per plant before the flowering (April) fruit developing stage (July/ August) as well as after the harvesting (December).

• Urea - 50 g
• Super phosphate - 50 g
• Muriate of potash - 100 g

It is import to increase the applied amount of fertilizer by 225g per year up to 1.5 kg.

Water Management
Irrigation is needed for normal growth and yield of the plant in dry season. Also, need to apply irrigation system in dry zone.

Yield
Average fruit weight is about 300-600 g in intermediate zone. Average yield is about 10000kg per ha. in our country.

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Pineapple
Ananas comosus (L) 2n=50

Introduction
Family : Bromeliaceae
Include 60 genera and 1500 spp

Origin :- South America

1. Semi perennial herb, 90 - 100 cm in height with a leaf spread of 130 - 150 cm and a terminal inflorescence of fruit
2. Confined to Tropics & Sub tropics (250 between N & S from equator)
3. Growth continued after fruiting by one or more auxiliary buds in the leaf axil growing in to vegetative branches (suckers) asa ratoon crops.
4. Plants may continue living and fruiting for over fifty years.
5. In commercial production, several ratoon crops are taken (2-6 harvesting)‍
6. Although its' a seasonal crop, there is a chance to obtain fruits through out the year by application of flower induction hormones.

Nature of the pineapple

• Produce Functional germ cells
• But cant be self fertilized.
• Cross compatible & set seeds
• No natural cross pollination (except by Humming birds)
• About 150 flowers /fruits
• Opening start from base (5-10 Flowers / days)
• Continues up to 10-15 days

Nutritive Values
(per 100g of edible fruit)

Water	87.8 g
Energy	46.0 k cal
Protein	0.4 g
Fat	0.1 g
Carbohydrates	10.8 g
Calcium	20.0 mg
Phosphorus	9.0 g
Iron	1.2 mg
Carotene (Vit. A)	18.0 ug
Thiamine	200.0 ug
Riboflavin (Vit. B)	120.0 ug
Niacin	0.1 ug
Vitamin C	39.0 mg

Commercial usage of pineapple
Ripen fruits :-

• use as a dessert
• Syrup (juice)
• Alcohol
• Citric Acid
• Residues - Cattle feed and fertilizer
• Leaves Fibers-

Medicinal Values
Ripe fruit : Possesses germicidal, laxative, and invigorative properties, contains digestive enzyme increases appetite.
Useful in cardiovascular disorders.
Unripe fruit : Can cause abortion

Nature of cultivation
Medium and large scale orchards and home gardens.

Availability
May - June (Major season) Prices are low
December - January (Minor season)

Obtain fruits through out the year by Hormone application - Prices are high

Pineapple cultivation extent and production in Sri Lanka

District	Extent (ha)	Production ('000 fruits)
1. Gampaha	1,694	8,969
2. Kurunegala	2,069	25,170
3. Badulla	115	1,201
4. Puttlam	199	1,329
5. Moneragala	157	1,140
SriLanka (Total)	4,825	40,716

Source:- Department of Census and Statistics of Sri Lanka.

Major Growing AreasKurunagala , Gampaha , Badhulla , Puttlam , Moneragala , Colombo and Gale.

Suitable climatic zones for pineapple cultivation in Sri Lanka

Wet Zone		WL1	WL2	WL3
	RF	>100"	>75"	>60"
	Soil	Red yellow podsolic	Red yellow podsolic	Red yellow podsolic
		Hiniduma, Ratnapura,Morawaka, Agalawatta, Bombuwela	Kegalla, Pelmadulla Warakapola Polgahawela Mapalana Nakiadeniya	Walpita, Mirigama,Veyanoda, Mahara

Recommended Varieties
1. Cayenne = Smooth cayenne = "Kew" Pineapple in SriLanka
2. Queen = "Mauritius" in SriLanka
3. Singapore Spanish

Commercial varieties in SriLanka

Characters	Kew	Mauritius
1.Presence of spins in leaves	No	Yes
2.Quality of flesh	Very Good	Excellent
3. Canning quality	Very Good	Fair
4. Fruit Yield	High	Average
5. Fruit weight (kg)	2.5 - 4	1.2 - 2
6. Shape of the fruit	Cylindrical	Conical
7. Color of the ripen fruit	Yellow with green mottling	Golden yellow
8. Flavor and aroma	Pleasant	Excellent
9. Wilt resistance	Susceptible	Moderately susceptible
10. Drought resistance	Moderately resistant	Resistant
11. Farmer preference	Medium	High
12. Cultivated extent	Very low (5%)	Very high (95%)

Diseases of Pineapple
1. Pineapple wilt
2. Yellow spots
3. Heart/root rot
4. Butt rot
5. Phythium rot
6. Acetic souring
7. Glassy spoilage
8. Yeast fermentation

Pineapple wilt Symptoms

• Slow growth on roots
• Inhibit the root actions
• Deteriorating of root tissue
• Red colour leaf tips

Control

• Select the suitable land
• Controlling ants and mealy bugs
• Using healthy plants, pretreatment of suckers before planting
• Control the plant density (Desukering after harvesting)
• Weeds control
• Shade control
• Control the excess fertilizer application

Pests of Pineapple
1. Mealy bug
2. Fruit borer
3. Stem borer
4. Nematodes
5. Rats
6. Termites
7. Pineapple bug/beatle
8. Symphylids
9. Pineapple mites
10. Scale insects

Control of pineapple pest and diseases

Name	Chemical	Time of application	Concentration
1.Mealy bug	Selecron / Tokuthion	Preplanting and 5,8 and 14 months after planting	30 ml liquefy in 10 l of water
2. Head /root rot	Ridomil / Mancozeb	Preplanting ,dip the suckers 5 minutes in the mixture	Ridomil 200 ml+ 100 l of water Mancozeb 10 g + 100 l of water
3. Pythium rot	1.Mancozeb 2.Topzin	If disease present only	5.0g liquefy in 10 l of water

Climatic Requirements
Elevation
Up to 1000 m from the sea level ( higher elevations fruit contains high acidity)

Optimum temperature
24- 27⁰ C

Mean Annual Rain fall
1000 mm (635 - 2500 mm)

Low country wet & intermediate zones more suitable (with supplementary irrigation Dry zone also suitable)

Well drained , deep and gravel soils are much better.

Poor drainage soils are not good

Optimum soil PH = 5.5-6.5

Salinity and alkalinity soils are not good except little acidity and heavy clay

Should be exposed to sunlight in the open field or intercrop with young or old coconut

Ca and Mn rich soils are not good. (Cholorosis may appear)

Planting Material

Type of suckers	Duration from planting to harvesting (months)
1. Ground suckers	12 -14
2. Stem suckers	14 - 16
3. Slips	20 - 22
4. Crown	24
5. Tissue culture plants	15 - 18
6. Seedling	30

Planting material production ratio

Types of planting material	Ratio
1. Crown splitting	1:20
2. Stem sections	1:30
3. Normal suckers per plant	1: 2 - 3
4. Seedlings per fruit (by artificial cross pollination)	1:150
5. Suckers from decapitation per plant	1:20
6. Tissue culture plantlets per shoot	1:6000

Plants requirement (ha)

Planting System	Mono crops	Intercrop with coconut
1. Single row method (spacing 2 x 0.3 m)	14,000	10,000
2. Double row method (1.5 x 0.3 m) (Two double 0.6 m)	27,000	16,000

Pretreatment of suckers
1. Insecticides
Mix selecron/tokuthion 300 ml in 100 l of water , dip the suckers 5 minutes in this solution.
2. Fungicides
Mix ridomil 200 ml in 100 l of water, dip the suckers 5 minutes in this solution.

Hormone Application
Apply to getuniform fruit setting & off season fruit production

Time & Method of application
Five months before the harvesting. Should contain 30 - 35 leaves and the age at 8 - 10 months

Hormone	Trade Name	Applying Quantity	Application Rate/tree
1.CaC2	Calcium Carbite	30g + 1Lit. of water	50 ml
2. NAA	Plantifix	4.5 Lit. of water	50 ml
3. Ethylene	Ethral	1ml + 5Lit. of water	50 ml

Pineapple hybridization
Steps:- 1. Cross pollination

• Followers opening at 9-10 AM
• Not necessary to emasculate,Not necessary to isolate the plants or flowers
• Anthers collected to small box by forceps at around 10 AM
• Single anther rubbed over the stigma with forceps
• Pollinated flowers are net covered
• Crossed fruits should be labeled
• Ripen fruits are separately harvest for seed extraction

Steps:- 2. Collection & germination of seeds

• Cut the ripen fruits & get the hybrid seeds
• Clean the seeds with water
• Seeds germination (4-6 weeks) - Seeds will be placed on bricks
• Keep on a water bath
• Half of the bricks should be get wet
• It has to be covered with polyethylene orpiece of flat glass

Steps:- 3. Nursery Management of Seedlings

• 30-45 days old seedlings will be planted in the seedling trays & kept for 6 months
• Seedlings will be replanted in the field nursery & kept for 6 months
• Total period for nursery is about 1 year

Steps:-4. Evaluation of hybrid lines in the field

• Lines should be evaluated by using fruit to row planting system
• Spacing 1x2 m (All the seedlings of one fruit should plant in one row)
• Plants should be selected forGene-typically differences,Characters for high yields & qualities
• Selected plants should be propagated by vegetative suckers
• Progeny screening & data collection should be continued up to third generation

Steps:-5. Adaptability testing
Different locations (NCVT trials)

• Single row system should be adapted (spacing 0.30 x 1.00 m)
• Compare with recommended varieties
• Growth, yields & quality characters
• Data should be collected from the ratoon crops

Harvesting & post-harvest technology
Value Added Products
Cordials, canned products , jams, alcohol (wine), syrup, dehydrated products for confectionery, ice cream.

Economics & Marketing
Problems and Constraints in pineapple cultivation
1. Climate change - Drought and high rain fall
2. Less land availability
3. High investment
4. Lack of good varieties
5. Lack of planting material
6. Weed
7. High cost of inputs
8. Lack of laborers
9. Pest and diseases (esp. pineapple wilt)
10. Price fluctuations
11. Lack of technical knowledge

Harvesting & post-harvest technology
Value Added Products
Cordials, canned products, jams, alcohol (wine), syrup, dehydrated products for confectionery, ice cream.

Cost of cultivation
Under coconut, single row system, up to first harvest

Item	(Rs. /ha)
1. Land Preparation	14,000
2. Planting Material (10000 plants)	60,000
3. Pre treatment	4,500
4. Planting (25 man days)	10,000
5. Fertilizer (50 kg x 24 bags)	48,000
6. Weeding	6,000
7. Hormone	4,000
8. Pest & disease control	10,000
9. Harvesting	6,000
10. Others	12,500
Total	175,000