Protected cultivation with drip fertigation is a feasible option for growing high - value vegetables in Samoa: a case study

Ubaub, Leslie and Kader, Md. Abdul and Desai, Nandakumar and Ubaub, Oliver C. and Cai, Mayday (2025) Protected cultivation with drip fertigation is a feasible option for growing high - value vegetables in Samoa: a case study. Sustainability, 17 (16). NA. ISSN 2071-1050

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Abstract

Protected structures with drip fertigation systems have allowed many countries around the world to grow high-value vegetables, such as tomatoes and bell peppers year round,
particularly under adverse edaphoclimatic conditions. This paper evaluates the feasibility of tomato and bell pepper cultivation in Sunshine Pacific Limited. Farm in Tanumalala, a commercial farm in Samoa, under a protected cultivation system with drip fertigation. The yield, water use efficiency, establishment and maintenance costs, and the average return per hectare of production were analyzed. Additionally, economic feasibility indicators were
estimated using the discount factors of 6.5% and 11%. Results showed that the annual yield of tomatoes (163,500 kg/ha) was higher than bell peppers (103,500 kg/ha). The water use efficiency (WUE) and product water use (PWU) of these two crops in this study were less efficient compared to what was observed in other countries, as indicated by the value of the respective WUE and PWU: 8.38 kg/m3 and 0.12 m3/kg for tomatoes while 5.31 kg/m3 and 0.19 m3/kg for capsicum. Despite the high initial establishment cost, all economic feasibility parameters indicated that the system is profitable, having a BCR ratio of more than 2, and feasible under Samoa conditions, mostly due to the high market price. Thus, this system of cultivation could be an option for growing high-value vegetables in Samoa. However, further research is needed to improve the yield and water use efficiency.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Divisions:	School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS)
Depositing User:	Leslie T Ubaub
Date Deposited:	05 Oct 2025 23:28
Last Modified:	05 Oct 2025 23:28
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/15137

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