Commercial Vegetable Production and Marketing Book PDF Download [Grade-12]


 

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INTRODUCTION

A. Objectives
The main objective of this course is to develop student’s ability to:
 Explain the importance, scope and constraints of vegetable crop production.
 Classify the different vegetable crops.
B. Content elaboration
1.1. Importance and Scope 1
The term, horticulture is derived from two Latin words, i.e. ‘hortus’ means garden
and ‘cultura’ means cultivation. Vegetables can be defined as “those annual,
perennial non woody plants of which mature or immature succulents’ roots,
stems, leaf, bulbs, fruits or seed etc. which are eaten as raw or cooked”.Definition
of vegetables centers on its uses. A plant may be vegetables in one country but a
fruit or weed or ornamental plants or medicinal plants in other countries
depending upon the use of the crop.
Importance of vegetables
1) Nutritional importance
Nepal is an agricultural country. More than 65% of the population depends upon
farming for living. A sustainable number of farmers grow vegetables as main
crops or secondary crops. Vegetables production has great influence on the
improvement of farm economy and enrichment of the diet. The importance of
vegetable in human diet is well known since time immemorial as they supply
main components of human diet. As the cereal grain cannot supply enough
proteins, vitamins, minerals etc. Vegetables are considered as cheaper sources of
vitamins and minerals.
Vegetables contain carbohydrate, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and also possess
medicinal properties. Thus vegetables play a vital role in the balance diet of
human being.

2 Commercial Vegetable Production and Marketing Management : Grade 12
According to human dieticians about 300 gram vegetables (125 gm. leafy
vegetables, 100 gm. root and tuber vegetables and 75 gm. other vegetables) per
capita per day are required. But the availability of vegetables in Nepal is only 145
gm. Per capita per day which is very low compared to the recommended dose.
The importance of vegetables at future increases as most of the Nepalese
population is vegetarians.
Except Tomato, most of the vegetables are alkaline in nature which neutralizes the
acidic effect caused by non-vegetarian foods.
1. Consumption of vegetables is necessary for maintaining good health.
2. Vegetables are considered as protective food against diseases.
3. Vegetables are rich and cheap sources of vitamins, minerals, proteins and
carbohydrate.
4. They play an important role in balanced diet.
5. Most fresh vegetables contains more than 80% water, the remaining 20%
constitutes proteins, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals.
6. Vegetables are mostly alkali foods and they neutralize the other acidic
foods.
7. Vegetables contain a high amount of fibers which help in cleaning the
alimentary canal.
Medicinal importance
 White cabbage contains vitamin “U” (ulcus) which prevent ulcer.
 Bitter gourd is used for treating diabetes.
 The ash guard is useful for patients with weak nervous system.
 Vegetable contains antioxidant and bioflavonoids which neutralize free
radical formed during metabolism of foods.
Functions and Deficiency Symptoms of Various Nutrients :
Nutrients Nutritional
Contribution

Functions Deficiency
Symptoms/
Medicinal
Importance

Sources

Carbohy-
drate

100 gm. of edible
part of the crops

Supply energy (4
Kcal/gm.) and help in

Loss of energy
and weakness

Pea, Beans,
Sweet Potato,

Commercial Vegetable Production and Marketing Management : Grade 12 3

gives the following
amount of
carbohydrate;
Leafy vegetables:-
8.7 gm. CHO.
Fruit vegetables:- 5.3
gm CHO.
Roots vegetables:-
6.0 gm CHO.
Daily requirement of
CHO is 400 – 500
gm. 100 gm. of
edible part of wheat
bread contains 52
gm. of carbohydrate.

the assimilation of other
nutrients.
Fibers improve
digestion, prevent
constipation and reduce
the level of cholesterol.

Yam,
Colacasia,
Potato, Garlic,
Onion, Carrot,
Beet etc.

Protein
(7%)

Daily requirement of
proteins is 60 – 80
gm/head.
100 gm. Of fresh
product gives the
following amount of
proteins;
Leafy vegetables:-
2.2 gm.
Fruit vegetables:- 2.0
gm.
Root vegetables:-
1.35 gm.

Help in the formation
and maintenance of
tissue, body growth;
provide energy (4 kcal
per gm.). Form various
enzymes and hormones
to regulate various
physiological processes
in the body.

Retard growth of
the children,
causes irritability,
apathy and retard
mental
development.
Skin and hair
looses color, the
swelling of faces,
lower parts of
legs and feet.

Soybean, lime
Bean, Pea,
Broad Bean,
leaves of
Fenugreek,
Cow pea,
Amaranthus,
Palak etc.

Fat (1%) Vegetables fats are
present in small
amount. The richest
sources of vegetables
like Peas and Bean
contain 8% of the
fresh weight and
other crop contain
less than 1% of fresh
weight.

Supply essential fatty
acid and energy (9 kcal
per gm.) in concentrated
form.

Lack of energy
and weakness.

Vitamins Vitamins are
required in small
quantities.
Human body needs 6
.different vitamins A,
B, C, D, E and K.

Vitamins
A

50% of total food
supply.

Help in growth and
provide protection
against infection and
night blindness. It

Night blindness,
susceptibility to
diseases and
retardation of

Carrot, yellow
colored fruits
and vegetables
like Pumpkin,

4 Commercial Vegetable Production and Marketing Management : Grade 12

increases longevity. growth in young
age.

Tomato,
Watermelo,
Spinach,
Radish, Turnip,
Lettuce.

Vitamin B
Complex
Vitamin
B1
(thiamine)

20% of total food
supply

Maintain appetite and
keep the nervous system
healthy and help in the
release of energy.

Causes beriberi,
loss of appetite,
enlargement of
throat, loss of
sensitivity of
skin, loss in
weight and fall of
body temperature.
Palak,
Colacasia
leaves, Radish
leaves, Lettuce,
Cabbage,
Carrot, Onion,
Pea, Bean etc.

Vitamin B2 Help in cell respiration,
essential for growth,
help in maintenance of
skin around the mouth
and keep the nose
smooth.

Cracks at the
corner of the
mouth, red
cracked lips,
soreness of the
tongue, ulcer in
oral cavity,
swollen of the
nose and redness
of eye.

Amaranthus,
palak, Colacasia
leaves, Radish
leaves, Pea,
Bean, etc.

Vitamin
B5 Naicine
(Nicotinic
acid)

20% of total food
supply

Essential for growth and
release of energy.

Soreness of
tongue, pellagra
and skin changes
in hands, feet,
legs and neck

Amaranthus,
Palek, Green
chilies, Tomato,
Kale, Colacasia
leaves, etc.

Vitamin C
(Ascorbic
acid)

90% of total supply Necessary for healing of
wounds and absorption
of ions to make
cementing substances to
hold cells together and to
strengthen walls of
blood vessels to help
resist function and
essential for calcification
of bones and teeth.

Scurvy, bleeding
in gum and
mucus
membrane, tooth
decay, and
susceptibility to
common cold.

Carrot, Spinach,
Radish, Parsley,
Agathi, Shimla
mirch,
Cabbage,
Brussels sprout,
Chilies, Bitter
gourd (small,
Cauliflower,
Tomato,
Cucumber.

Vitamin D Helps in building strong
bones and teeth and
essential for the
absorption of the
Calcium

Causes Rickets
and dental
diseases.

Green
vegetables

Vitamin E Helps in normal
reproduction

Cause sterility Vegetable oil
and green
vegetables like
Lettuce,
Cabbage etc.

Commercial Vegetable Production and Marketing Management : Grade 12 5
Minerals Vegetables are rich
in minerals. They
contain over 50
elements among
them Fe, I, Ca are
most important.
Food containing high
amount of P, S, Cl
are called acidic food
whereas food
containing high
amount of sodium,
K, Ca, and Mg etc.
are called basic food.
Minerals compose
skeletal parts of the
body and maintain
acid – alkali balance
and regulate the
function of the
system.

Calcium Essential for formation
of bones and teeth. Help
in the clotting of the
blood.

Causes Rickets
and osteomalacia
in woman after
repeated
pregnancy.

Pea, Bean,
Cabbage,
Cauliflower,
Onion, Tomato.

Iron 20% of total supply Act as O2 carrier in the
body and helps in the
formation of the
Hemoglobin.

Anemia, Pale and
smooth tongue,
Paleness lips,
eyes and skin and
spooned shaped
nail.

Spinach, Peas,
Beans, Bitter
gourd, Lettuce,
Onion, Tomato
and Leafy
vegetables.

Iodine To form Thyroxin
hormone

Causes Goiter
(inflammation of
the Thyroid
gland).

Okra, Onion,
Asparagus,
Summer squash
etc.

2. Economic importance
1. Vegetables production makes effective use of land. Generally, most of
vegetable crops are short duration crops. So, 3 – 4 crops can be harvested in
a year from the same piece of land.
2. Vegetable production provides more farm employments. Vegetable
cultivation is more labor intensive than cereals. A study conducted in
Taiwan shows that Tomato cultivation requires 8020 labors while rice
requires 761 labors/hactors. Vegetable production has great potential for

6 Commercial Vegetable Production and Marketing Management : Grade 12
employing seasonally unemployed workers.
3. Vegetables production increases the net income of the farmers. Vegetable
productions are high yielder and fetch good price compared to cereals.
4. Vegetables production stimulates sub-urban employment. Commercial
vegetable production creates employment opportunity in the field of
transportation, marketing, processing and manufacturing of package.
5. Vegetable cultivation expands exports. Vegetable can be exported to the
area where they are in high demand but cannot be produced in such amount
during summer and rainy season. Vegetable grown in high land of Nepal
can be exported to Bangladesh, India, Srilanka and Pakistan.
6. Vegetable production supports the establishment of agro base industries.
Many of the vegetables crops are used as raw materials in the industries.
Example:- canning industries uses Tomato, Peas and Beans. Pickling
industries use Cucumber, chilies and Cauliflower. Flour industries make use
of Potato, sweat Potato, Yam and palm. Alcohol and starch extraction
industries use Potato, sweet Potato and Yam.
7. Seasonal and off-seasonal vegetable production.
Scope of vegetable crops
Presence of different agro-ecological conditions
Due to the great variation in altitude, Nepal has different agro climatic conditions,
as we can grow fresh vegetables &seeds of numerous crops.
Increasing demand of fresh vegetables & vegetable seeds
Human nutrition requires a 300gm of fresh vegetables per day. Out of this, green
vegetables: 120gm, root vegetables: 90 gm and other vegetables: 90gm.Above
quantity is lacking in the majority of both rural & urban communities. Deficit
quantity of seeds of vegetable can manage.
Export potential
Potentialities to export off-season vegetables & vegetable seeds to the neighboring
countries, as they can’t produce due to the climatic regions.

Commercial Vegetable Production and Marketing Management : Grade 12 7
Availability of cheap farm labors
Fresh vegetables and vegetable seed production can employ the surplus farm labor
and improve the economy of small farmers.
1.2. Potentiality of vegetable production in relation to local as well as
international markets 7

Vegetable production and marketing is gradually emerging as an important sub-
sector contributing to gross domestic product (GDP) in Nepal. Agriculture sector

contributed about 33 percent to the GDP (MOAC, 2007) with 14.38 percent
(about two-third of total
horticultural share) shared by vegetables including potato (MOAC, 2007).
According to an estimate, area under vegetable crops in the recent years is
increasing by nearly five percent per annum. In addition, the productivity and
accordingly the production show an increasing trend (MOAC, 2007). Apart from
which, vegetable is a potential source of export earnings, rural employment and
economic growth (NPC, 1995). In such situations, improving production and
marketing efficiencies is only way to sustain local produce in the market.
However, the country is not able to harness available market for vegetables, and
different factors at production and marketing levels hindering vegetable business
are not fully identified and abated. Studies on vegetable production and marketing
to substantiate economic relation between farmers and traders are limited in
Nepal. Some rapid market appraisals and national seminars have raised some
issues as problems.
1.3. Constraints in commercial vegetable production and possible remedies7
Poor people
Economic status of Nepalese farmer is poor than developed countries. Poor people
can’t afford the initial installment and management. Vegetable crops require
intensive care and management
Small land holding and acreage
Fragmented and scattered land. Average land size per household is 0.789 ha

8 Commercial Vegetable Production and Marketing Management : Grade 12
(Terai: 0.944 ha, Mid Hills: 0.655 ha and High hills: 0.633ha). Small size land
holding limits the commercial vegetable production
Geophysical situation
Due to vivid geophysical & topographical ranges, problems in transportation and
marketing of perishable vegetables.
Climate situations
Often frost, freeze, hailstone, speedy winds, thunderstorm occurs in various parts
of the country & cause serious losses in vegetable production.
Biological phenomena
Self incompability, heterostyle, male sterility etc. are the biological phenomena
that enforce not to set seed & hence to vegetable production.
Plant protection measures
All vegetables are affected with insects, pests and diseases in different growth
stages. There are several such problems which are not yet considered. Example:
Late blight of potato, blight of tomato and mustard aphid.
Lack of extension support staff
Trained persons on programs, policies and activities of vegetable crop extension
are lacking to disseminate the knowledge that helps to expand cultivation of
vegetable crops in Nepal.
Varietal improvement
The varietal improvement program in Nepal is not yet progressed. Some of the
newly released varieties are not well adapted to local conditions of Nepal because
mostly imported from foreign countries. So, they have problems of adaptability.
Social constraints
In rural areas, vegetables are not normally sold. Some tribes do not have
vegetables according to their culture, examples: onion and garlic by Brahmin.
This brief has hindered development of commercial vegetable production in
Nepal.

Commercial Vegetable Production and Marketing Management : Grade 12 9
Seasonal price fluctuation
The extent of seasonality on individual vegetable price varies greatly example:
more than 400% in cauliflower, 200% in tomato. The average seasonality in the
price of all vegetables as a group about 200%, which is much higher than any
other crops.
Labour intensive business
Labour inputs to vegetable cultivation are higher than to cereal cultivation. In
Nepal, most of the active population working on foreign countries for full-time
employment resulting to labour shortage in the peak period for vegetable farming.
Migration and Feminization of Agriculture
Agriculture has not been perceived as no prestigious work. Major trends in rural
areas they out to leave their villages for the labor work to urban areas. This has
created a shortage of labour for senior citizens, women and children in the
villages. This has created problems in reduction of overall agricultural production,
including vegetable ones.
Marketing constraints
No special vehicles are used to transport vegetables. Nepal is lacking
infrastructure facilities such as integrated market centers, wholesale markets,
collection centers, warehouses and processing centers. Lack of marketing
information system to farmers about the price prevailing at different market levels
for various commodities does not exist. Linkage and coordination among farmers,
transporters, middleman or agents, wholesalers and retailers are not
institutionalized

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