Abstract:
The floriculture industry is considered as a popular agribusiness for decades in Sri Lanka.
The Southern province was identified as a possible area for expansion of the industry. But
lack of adequate literature and information on the present situation about the floriculture
industry hinders the expansion. Therefore, this study was designed to identify the present
situation of the floriculture industry in Southern Sri Lanka. Data were collected from the
randomly selected 70 growers based on a pre-tested questionnaire survey conducted
during August – November 2019 by visiting exhibitions and monthly meetings of flower
grower societies in Galle (Galle, Nagoda divisional secretariat divisions), Matara (Matara,
Akuressa, Weligama divisional secretariat divisions) and Hambantota districts
(Ambalantota, Sooriyawewa Beliatta divisional secretariat divisions) belongs to the
Southern Province. According to the analysed data, almost all (99%) the growers were
female, educated up to O/Ls (54%) and the majority (73%) of them were more than the
age of 45 years. Most (54%) of growers have earned monthly income more than
Rs.10,000. Most (79%) of them had established shade houses while all growers are
cultivating in the open field. This industry is involved in 43% of unemployed women and
57% of women after retirement from their occupations. Products are sold directly to
consumers or in the exhibitions by 49% of the growers while a smaller number of
products sold to a wholesaler and retailers. This business is run mainly (95%) by using
family labour. Flowering plants (Anthurium, Orchids, Roses, Bogunvellia, Aquatic
flowering plants, Jasmine, etc) and foliage plants (Dracaena, Agloneama, Calathea,
Philodendron, Cordyline, Maranta, etc) are sold as pot plants and high demand can be
seen for new varieties. Planting materials are collected from local farms, exhibitions, or
exporters. Chemical or organic fertilizer combinations are applied by the majority of
growers (59%). Chemicals are mainly (81%) used for disease and pest control. Almost all
the growers had been stated that there is sufficient demand for the floriculture industry in
southern Sri Lanka (100%, p-value 0.05). Therefore, this study revealed that floriculture
is a popular industry among people, further studies should be conducted to find potentials
and constraints for expansion of the industry in the region.
Keywords: Floriculture, Growers, Present, Southern, Sri Lanka
