An Anuradhapura farmer has set a new record by earning the highest income from chili harvest.
Using the High Density Cropping System introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture, resident of Sivalakulama, Puliyankulama in Anuradhapura district. Mr.H.M.A. Peiris (Bandula) Farmer (Telephone- 0776-790668, 0725970285) said that he has earned a high income by cultivating chilli said Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industry, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera.
Under the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project under the Ministry of Agriculture, this farmer has grown chillies on half an acre under the high density cultivation method and the amount earned is 70 lakh rupees.
Under the traditional method, the amount of chili plants that can be grown in half an acre is about 6000 plants. But the amount of chili plants that can be grown under this high density cultivation method is 13,000 plants. Therefore, under this new system, it is possible to increase the yield several times.
In this new cultivation method, minimum amount of fertilizer and minimum amount of water is used, minimum amount of insecticides and herbicides are used, and there is no need to incur special expenses for weed control, due to the fact that the soil water is not evaporated due to the application of a polythene cover on the soil layer, this is beneficial to the farmer in all respects. The new cultivation system is advantageous.
Previously, a farmer in Jaffna had earned the highest income by growing chillies on half an acre. He had earned 50 lakh rupees by growing chillies on half an acre. That record was then broken by a young farmer from Anuradhapura itself. That young farmer had also earned 60 lakh rupees by growing chillies on half an acre.
Till now, the farmer named Sivalakulama Bandula has recorded the highest income by cultivating half an acre of chillies. His income in six months is Rs. 07 million.
They have grown the two latest chili varieties MICH-1 and MICH-2 introduced by the Mahailuppallama Agricultural Research Institute and has been able to get the highest yield due to this chili variety.
In an inquiry made to the farmer in this regard this morning, he stated that despite having obtained a harvest of 79 lakh rupees, the harvest of his chili cultivation is not yet finished.
The next day (10) will harvest chillies again and about 10 lakh rupees worth of chillies will be harvested that day and he said that he is confident that a harvest of 100 lakh rupees can be obtained from this half acre.
