Initial Preliminary survey report of on onion nursery businesses in Sindh

Introduction
The nursery business survey is the first step in continuation of on initiating th
activities for related to the sixth agreed proposal on “successful seedling nursery
business to set up small rural enterprises for women in Sindh and Punjab”.
In this regard, a survey was conducted in selected areas of Sindh. Main features of the
nursery business are describe in the report. One important finding is that the ruralIt was
found that women participation in nursery business is almost none non-existant. all the
business activities are done by malesMales do all the nursery related cultural practices,
which is may be due to the nature of the nursery business in the Lower Sindh
provinceregion.

Objectives
1) To Uunderstand the current supply chain of seeding nursery businesses
2) To Uunderstand the reasons behind success and impediments to success.
3) Based on the result from 1) and 2) To evaluate the financial and practical feasibility to
develop seedling nursery business in the selected village of SVVCP based on the
result from 1) and 2)

Methodology
The research adopted a mixed approach to get the information. Key informant in-depth
interviews were conducted by the purposively randomly selected nursery owners. Total A
total of 5 samples were interviewed during this survey. The tool used was an open-ended
questionnaire focusing on the production and marketing aspects of the nursery business.

Research Findings

In this report, research the findings are reported in the manner in which questions were
asked. However, a detailed analysis of the findings may also be done on the basis of primary
data.

General Information on Nursery Business

1. Locations of the Nurseries

The sampled nurseries interviewed are located in the Districts of Tando Allahyar and
Hala. As the selected farmers groups are also situated in the vicinity of both districts.
Hala is considered as a famous market for whole Pakistan to provide onion
seedlings. Hala is situated on main national highway which is also a supportive edge
for the supply chain of the nursery seedling business.
Out of five sampled nurseries three are located in district Tando Allahyar and two are
located in district Hala.
2. Major Vvegetables in nursery
 All the five nurseries have onion as major vegetable is onion however other
vegetables are also grown in nursery business. These vegetables are Tomato, Green
Chili, Okra, Carrot and Guar (cluster bean).
3. Area used for nursery
Four of the all five nurseries use 1 to 2 acers of land for the onion nursery only one
nursery is found using 8 acers of land for the nursery business
4. Years in business
In the area of TandoAllahyar the nursery business are 10 to 15 years old however in
Hala new starters also found where they have started business 3 years ago.

5. Satisfaction in the nursery business

Like all other businesses, there are challenges and difficulties in nursey business as
told by a respondent. ButHowever, the nursery owners were found satisfied with their
nursery businesses.

6. Motivation in the business

The reason majorof motivation for doing nursery business is the profit margin in this
business which is reasonably high also this is a short cycle of 3 months so the
investment get doubled in three months. Another reason is that most of the nursery
owner are also grower so they also need seedlings for their own crop cultivation.

7. Other source of income

Nursey owners also had some other sources of income most of them were also
growing other cropser of agriculture products. And nursery business shares
approximately 10% in their whole income.

Nursery Pproduction related iInformation

1. Any technical education regarding nursery business
All of the interviewed nursery owners didn’t had any kind of formal education or
technical education or trainings for managing and growing nursery business.

2. Type of seeds used

Local ‘Nasarpurinuserpuri’ seeds are used by all interviewed nurseries. No body use
any hybrid seed for the onion however for other vegetable nursery hybrid seeds are
used.

3. Nursery fate if gets overagedIf nursery get over age

 There is no other use of over- aged nursery, for onion some of them remain the
seedlings to grow and produce more seeds. However most of the time the over aged
nursery become fodder of their livestock.

4. Growing media
All of the interviewed nurseries, use normal land soil is used as growing media for the
nursery. None of the repondant using any nursery growing media

5. Conventional Method of growing nursery

All of the interviewed nurseries, use flat bed for onion nursery.

6. Use of modern method (plug tray)?

No any of the interviewed nurseries use plug trays, according to them it may will
increase the cost of the nursery.

7. Mortality rate
When asked about mortality rate in the interviewed nurseries, respondents
mentioned a 25% to -35% mortality rate. The mortality depend on the climatic
conditions some time if climate is too hot, 100% nurseries get destroyedplant
mortality occurs in nurseries.

8. Sowing time of nurseries

In Tando Allahyar the growing time for onion nursery is May to September however
growers in Hala mentioned the growing period from June to July.

9. Irrigation method
Flood irrigation method is used by all interviewed nurseries, tThey use tube well
water for irrigating their nurseries.

10. Weeding Practices

Hoeing is done for weeding, which is done for 3 to 4 times in whole life of onion
nursery.

11. Application of fertilizer

Chemical fertilizers are used, farmyard manure is not used as it increase weedsing in
the nursery. Urea, DAP and NP is used in nurseries. also One respondent mentioned
the use of zinc also. Almost one bag of each chemical fertilizer is used in onion
nursery.
 12. Plant Protection Measures
Yes in all the sampled nurseries plant protection measures are taken for which they
use different kind of registered pesticides.

13. Disease incidences

No any disease incidences reported by all sampled nurseries.

14. Use of shading

No any kind of shading is used in interviewed sampled nurseries.
15. Best practice for successful business
Respondents attribute successful business to the good seeds, good soil and hard
working.

Marketing information

1. Highly demanded nursery

All the sampled nursery mentioned thats the onion nursery is most demanding.

2. Seed for nursey

Three of the interviewers mentioned they have their own seed, however, two of the
respondents said they buy nursery seed from the market.

3. Buyers of the nursery

Buyers of the nursery are mainly farmers from local villages and other villages,
however some retailers also buy who are mostly from Punjab.

4. Price determination
Normally price is determined on the basis of demand focusing the input cost of the
nursery.

5. Cost of the nursery

All respondents given similar response that there is 150,000- PKR to 200,000 PKR
expense for one acer land nursery of onion.

6. Price of the nursery

For onion In normal conditions one acer acre nursery is sold for 500,000 PKR,
however if demand is high the price goes high up to 800,000 PKR per acere.