Leeks
Introduction
Leek (Allium porrum) is a
typical cool climate vegetable which belongs to the family Liliacea and
it is being successfully grown in up country wet zone (1000 - 2000 m
asl and 2500 - 5000 mm rainfall) which is the most suitable area for
leek cultivation. Leek can also be grown in up country intermediate
zone (1000- 1500 m asl and 1500 - 2250 mm rainfall). Large Long Summer
is the only variety recommended and it is very popular among the
farmers. Leek is a long age crop (4? - 6 months) compared to other up
country vegetables. In Nuwara Eliya, farmers cultivate leek in a mix
cropping system with beet, carrot and lattuce to increase the crop
productivity and land used intensity. In this area it is being
cultivated year round under irrigated condition with the addition of
high organic matter. Leek is tolerant to wet weather and frost. The
total extend cultivated is around 1250 ha (Table 1). The present per
capita availability is 0.8kg/person/year. The post harvest losses of
leek is around 30 %. Leek has a good potential in the export market and
presently it is sent to Maldive islands, Middle east and other
countries (Culstoms Department 1999).
Nutritional value of the leek
The nutritive value (per 100g dry matter) of leek is given bellow.
| Energy (K.Cal) | 29 |
| Protein (g) | 02 |
| Fiber (g) | 1.4 |
| Calcium (mg) | 70 |
| Iron (mg) | 7.5 |
| Carotene (mg) | 1.8 |
| Thiamin (mg) | 0.07 |
| Riboflavin (mg) | 0.11 |
| Niacin (mg) | 0.8 |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 29.0 |
Recommended Varieties
Large Long Summer
Nursery Management
Nursery: 8 to 10 weeks
Seed Rate: 3000 to 4000 gm / Ha
Field Establishment
Planting Spacing:15 cm X 10 cm
Crop Management
| Fertilizer: (Kg / Ha) |
Urea | TSP | MOH |
| Basal | 90 | 275 | 50 |
| Top Dressing-1 ( 4 WAP ) | 90 | -- | -- |
| Top Dressing-2 ( 4 WAP ) | 90 | -- | 50 |
| Top Dressing-3 ( 4 WAP ) | 90 | -- | -- |
| Top Dressing-4 ( 4 WAP ) | 90 | -- | 50 |
Harvesting & Post-harvest Technology
Yield Potentia : 30 to 40 tons / Ha
Yield: 30 - 40 tons /ha
Time Taken to First Harvest: 90 to 115 Days after Transplanting.
Economics & Marketing
Extent and production
The extent and the production over Maha and Yala season during the period of 1991 - 1999 are presented in Table.
Extent and Production of Leek during 1991-1999
| Year | Maha | Yala | Total | |||
| Extent (ha) |
Production (mt) | Extent (ha) |
Production (mt) | Extent (ha) |
Production (mt) | |
| 1991 | 388 | 5877 | 306 | 5006 | 694 | 10883 |
| 1992 | 434 | 6214 | 362 | 5293 | 796 | 11507 |
| 1993 | 576 | 8329 | 471 | 7095 | 1047 | 15424 |
| 1994 | 581 | 8428 | 475 | 7179 | 1056 | 15607 |
| 1995 | 553 | 7509 | 462 | 6396 | 1015 | 13905 |
| 1996 | 652 | 8036 | 487 | 7191 | 1139 | 15227 |
| 1997 | 785 | 10595 | 557 | 8135 | 1342 | 18730 |
| 1998 | 680 | 9007 | 605 | 8561 | 1285 | 17568 |
| 1999 | 794 | 10607 | 654 | 9220 | 1448 | 19820 |
The total extend ranged between 694 -
1448ha and the production range between 10883- 19820mt during
1991-1999 period. It was also evident that the cultivated extent and
production during the Maha season were greater that of the Yala. This
is probably due to the availability of water during the Maha season
compared to that of Yala season.
Major Production Months
Nuwara Eliya district produces 90% of
the total production of Leek and it is cultivated throughout the year.
Hence, production of leek is more or less stable and there is no real
peak production month as other vegetables.
Export value
Export volume and export value of leek for the period of 1993-1999 is presented in Table.
Export volume and export value of leeks for the period of 1993 - 1999
| Year | Quantity (mt) | Value (Rs x Million) |
| 1993 | 203.2 | 4.74 |
| 1994 | 327.2 | 14.16 |
| 1995 | 424.6 | 22.30 |
| 1996 | 958.5 | 42.82 |
| 1997 | 895.5 | 43.21 |
| 1998 | 216. 6 | 19.07 |
| 1999 | 249.9 | 16.86 |
The export volume and the export
value during 1993 - 1999 periods are presented in the Table 2. It could
be noted that there was an increase in export volume of leek in 1996
and 1997.
Price Fluctuation
Cost of Production
The unit production cost for the period of 1998 - 2002 is presented in the Table.
Production cost of leek for the period of 1998 - 2002
| Year | Average yield (t/ha) |
Unit cost of production (Rs/kg) |
Net return (Rs/ha) |
| 1998 | 25.0 | 5.61 | 262100 |
| 1999 | 25.0 | 5.61 | 262100 |
| 2000 | 25.0 | 5.61 | 262100 |
| 2001 | 25.5 | 5.50 | 286250 |
| 2002 | 26.5 | 5.29 | 294300 |
Assumption: Cost of production of 140400 Rs/ha and average production price (farm-gate price) of 16.10 Rs/kg.
Major portion of the cost of production accounts for labour (40%) and fertilizer (30%). The other important factor that contributes to high cost of production is seed (15%). The cost of fertilizer could be cut down; if farmers realized the benefit of use of straight fertilizer which reduces the fertilizer cost by 40-50%. Labour could be saved if mix cropping with beetroot or carrot is adopted. Cost of pesticide could also be cutdown if need based spraying for pests and diseases is adopted.
Major portion of the cost of production accounts for labour (40%) and fertilizer (30%). The other important factor that contributes to high cost of production is seed (15%). The cost of fertilizer could be cut down; if farmers realized the benefit of use of straight fertilizer which reduces the fertilizer cost by 40-50%. Labour could be saved if mix cropping with beetroot or carrot is adopted. Cost of pesticide could also be cutdown if need based spraying for pests and diseases is adopted.
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