1. Recommended Varieties • Pritam/LongPurple • Chahat • SigatokaBeauty

2. Yield • 20-25tonnes/ha

4. When to plant Canbeplantedallyearround,however theremaybeadropinyieldsduringthe coolseason.

5. Seed Rate • 300g/ha

6. Spacing • 1.5mbetweenrowsand0.5m withinrows

7. Land Preparation • Twoploughingsandtwoharrowings arerecommendedforgoodsoil tilth.

10. Weed Control • Agoodlandpreparationwill reduceweeds,spraywith Paraquatat100ml/15Lof water(SoldasGramazone, Agazone&Royalparaquat). • Interrowcultivationandusinga hoelaterwillalsosuccessfully controlweedsintheplots.

11. Pest Control • LygusBug-applyMalathion at30ml/15Lofwateror Diazinonat45ml/15Lofwater. • TobaccoFleaBeetle-apply Malathionat30ml/15Lofwater orSprayAcephate75%a.iat 20g/15Lofwater(Acephateis soldasOrthene&Sunthene) • Thrips-applyConfidoratthe rateat5ml/15Lofwateror Sunchoropidattherateat 15ml/15Lofwater.

8. How to grow good seedlings • Useonlyrecommended varietiesforhighyieldsand qualityproduce. • Prepareseedbedonawell- chosensite. • Seedbedshouldberaised,well- drainedandrichinorganic matter. • Ifpossibledigincompostwhile preparingyourseedbed. • Sowseedsthinlyandcoverwith soiltopreventovergrowing andoutbreakofdampingoff disease. • Watertheseedbedeitherearly inthemorningorlateinthe afternoonwhenitiscool.

8. Where to plant • Eggplantsrequirewellstructured, deepalluvial,volcanicloamor sandyloamsoils.

9. Fertilizer • Poultrymanure Attherateof12t/ha2to3weeks beforeplanting. • NPK(13:13:21)200kg/habefore planting. • Ureaattherateof100kg/ha. Topdress4and6weeksafter plantingintwosplitapplications. Adoseof25kg/haofureais requiredafterevery3to4months duringtheproductionlifespan.

• Inter-rowcultivationusing horse/bullockdriven implements. • Keepthefieldcleani.e.collect allfalleneggplants,donotletit rotinthefield.

16. Returns • Goodqualityfruitscanfetchup to$0.50to$0.80/kg. • Expectedyieldis20-25tonnes/ ha. • Expectedincome$10,000to $16,000.

17. Food value • Agoodsourceofdietaryfibre andvitaminC.

18. Bilateral Quarantine Agreement for Export • Fieldshouldbecleanatall times(weedfreeandwell maintained) • Spraywithrecommendedchemi calsforrespectivetargetpests. • Removeanddisposeoffripe, overripe,fallenanddiscarded fruits. • Harvestqualityeggplantfor export • Followrecommendedagricultural practicestoachievegoodquality.

12. Disease Control Damping - off • Avoidexcessivewateringof seedbed.UseKocideat30g/15L ofwatertopreventfungal infections Blosom blight • Practicegoodfieldsanitation. Collectallmaturefruitsand throwthemoutsidethefield.

13. Harvesting • After60to90daysfromplanting, eggplantsarereadytobepicked andcontinuesformorethan6 monthsforexport.Forlocal marketharvestingcancontinue foralongerperiod. • Onlypickwelldevelopedand tenderfruits.

14. Field planting • Transplantingwhenseedlings areat3leafstage. • Hardenseedlingsbeforetrans planting. • Seedbedshouldbewateredhalf anhourbeforeliftingthe seedlings.* Lift,Don’tpullseedlingsout. • Transplantlateintheafternoon oronadullday.

15. Cultivation • Keepthefieldweedfreebutbe carefulnottodisturbthebaseof theplantsduringweeding.

Growing

for CashEGGPLANT

For more information contact: Ministry of Agriculture, Private Mail, Raiwaqa.Phone: (+679) 338 4233 Fax (+679) 338 7157 / Website: www.agriculture.gov.fj

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Ministry of Agriculture

Farmer’s Leaflet 2015