Publication Date
1993
Description
ABSTRACT A commercial seed enterprise with the initial objective of producing and marketing seeds of recently selected pasture species (Brachriaria dictyoneura and Arachis pintoi) oo small farms in the south west of Costa Rica is described. Farmers provide land and fencing and use the seed plots for grazing when not In the flowering period. The enterprise provides labour and technical organisation for establishment and seed production. Costs of organisation, and research and development work were greater than production costs; To achieve profitability the enterprise needs to increase net income possibly through share-cropping including animal production, and diversification into sale of imported products (e.g., seeds of other species). Better organised and funded government research and development on pasture seed production and establishment would also reduce costs for the enterprise.
Citation
Sylvester-Bradley, Rosemary and Ferguson, J E., "Commercial Seed Production of Tropical Forage Grasses and Legumes in Costa Rica" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 10.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session47/10
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Commercial Seed Production of Tropical Forage Grasses and Legumes in Costa Rica
ABSTRACT A commercial seed enterprise with the initial objective of producing and marketing seeds of recently selected pasture species (Brachriaria dictyoneura and Arachis pintoi) oo small farms in the south west of Costa Rica is described. Farmers provide land and fencing and use the seed plots for grazing when not In the flowering period. The enterprise provides labour and technical organisation for establishment and seed production. Costs of organisation, and research and development work were greater than production costs; To achieve profitability the enterprise needs to increase net income possibly through share-cropping including animal production, and diversification into sale of imported products (e.g., seeds of other species). Better organised and funded government research and development on pasture seed production and establishment would also reduce costs for the enterprise.
