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Strawberry cultivation promoted as a home industry
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High demand for strawberries
Story and pix by K R Rajamanthri
Strawberry cultivation is being promoted among housewives as a home cultivation to enhance their economies.
Strawberries have a high demand due to their beauty, taste, and high nutritional value. Studies have shown that they can be beneficial for heart health; and as they are rich in antioxidants they could ward off cancer.
It can be consumed as a fruit, or used as an ingredient in jam or ice cream. This has further increased demand, and a kilogram of strawberry can fetch prices between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500.
Although strawberries were mostly known as a greenhouse vegetation, it can be grown in open soil as well, especially in the upcountry intermediary zone, which encompasses the Nuwara Eliya District and the area surrounding Bandarawela.
However, the soil should have good water flow and the acidity level should be pH 6.
The best months to begin cultivation would be September or October, and should be done in a vegetable patch, around three to five days after applying the necessary fertilizer.
The Agriculture Department has recommended the Chandler variety for Sri Lanka in accordance with local climate conditions, but types such as Sweet Charlie and Camarosa provide more harvest and are more popular commercially.
Strawberry cultivation can benefit the country’s economy as well.
Around 50,000 plants can be cultivated per hectare, which would last for two or three years, producing 20-30 tons per hectare each year.
However, there is a difficulty in obtaining plants since local producers of plants are rare and they have to be imported, which would cost more.
Therefore, it is best to purchase a small amount of plants and expand the cultivation through runners.
Strawberries are prone to many diseases. Therefore the cultivation should be kept clean, removing any affected parts, and application of weedicide is essential.
Bad weather conditions can decrease the harvest and the quality of the harvest.
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