Protected Cultivation with Drip Fertigation Is a Feasible Option for Growing High-Value Vegetables in Samoa: A Case Study

Leslie T. Ubaub (), Mohammed A. Kader, Nandakumar Desai, Oliver C. C. Ubaub and Mayday Cai
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Leslie T. Ubaub: Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean, and Natural Sciences, The University of South Pacific, Samoa Campus, Apia WS1343, Samoa
Mohammed A. Kader: Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean, and Natural Sciences, The University of South Pacific, Samoa Campus, Apia WS1343, Samoa
Nandakumar Desai: Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean, and Natural Sciences, The University of South Pacific, Samoa Campus, Apia WS1343, Samoa
Oliver C. C. Ubaub: Sunshine Pacific Limited, Apia WS1343, Samoa
Mayday Cai: Sunshine Pacific Limited, Apia WS1343, Samoa

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-12

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/m 3 and 0.12 m 3 /kg for tomatoes while 5.31 kg/m 3 and 0.19 m 3 /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.

Keywords: protected structure; drip fertigation; economic feasibility; tomato; bell pepper (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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