Introduction and Promotion of Off-Season Vegetables Production under Natural Environment in Hilly Area of Upper Swat-Pakistan

Abstract

An experimental project entitled “Introduction and promotion of off season vegetables production under natural environment in hilly area of Swat-Pakistan” was conducted at district Swat in Farm Services Centre Madyan (FSC) with the collaboration of Agriculture Extension Department Swat during Kharif season 2014. The field experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) having 600 plots at different location and altitudes.  The sub plot size was kept 1 kanal in each vegetable plot. Tomato was planted on an area of 185 kanals, cucumber was grown on an area of 103 kanals, French bean was grown on 225 kanals, squashes was on 62 and peas were on 25 kanals in all the three location. From the results it is observed that all types of vegetable cultivars positively responded for high yield at different location and altitude. Maximum yield of Tomato and Cucumber (1026.8 and 1124.8 kg kanal^-1) was recorded in Kalam location. While in Behrain, Squashes and Peas produced highest yield (894.3 and 482.1 kg kanal^-1). In Madyan, highest yield was observed in French bean (784.6 kg kanal^-1). Kalam valley temperature was a little bit varied in vegetable growing season. There were 15-20 days difference was recorded in crop germination, development and growth in different location due to different altitudes in Madyan, Behrain and in Kalam. On the basis of above result it was concluded that Swat valley; Specially Upper Swat is most suitable for Off-season vegetable production under natural environment to enhance the socio-economic condition of the farmer community.

Keywords: Off-season, vegetables, natural environment, location, altitude, FSC