A window of opportunity: Summer tomato production in Bangladesh.
A. I. HUERTA (1), C. H. Lin (2), S. Ahmad (3), U. M. Zahir (4), M. N. Uddin (5), B. Sazib (6), J. F. Wang (2). (1) University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, U.S.A.; (2) AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center, Shanhua, Taiwan; (3) AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh; (4) AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center, Jessore, Bangladesh; (5) Bangladesh Agricultural Resear
Producing tomatoes during hot and wet seasons in the tropics is a challenge. However, the high price due to the low supply provides a good income opportunity for smallholders in developing countries. Use of rain shelter, fruit set hormone, and flood-tolerant and disease-resistant eggplant rootstock could increase tomato yield during the summer raining season. However, rain shelter and grafted seedlings require high economic inputs. We assessed the impact of rain shelter, grafting, or both technologies on tomato yield and potential profitability in Bangladesh. A split-plot design with grafting treatment as the main factor and rain shelter as the sub-factor was established in three research sites at Shanhua, Taiwan, and Gazipur and Jessore, Bangladesh from April to October 2013. All trials were managed according to local best agricultural practices and fruit-set hormone was applied to all plants. Data collected included all expenditures, incidence of prevalent diseases and insect pests, yield, and relevant environmental data. Tomato yellow leaf curl disease, black leaf mold, and bacterial spot were the predominant diseases observed, whereas tomato leaf miner and fruit borer were the most severe insect pests. Under the conditions tested, both grafting and rain shelter increased tomato yield at all locations. The results will provide information on how to apply these two treatments to maximize grower’s profits.
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