Protected cultivation of vegetables in Punjab-an economic analysis
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Date
2020
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to assess the costs and returns in the production of major
vegetable crops under protected cultivation vis-à-vis open field cultivation, to examine the
economic viability of investment for the production of vegetables under protected cultivation
and to identify the constraints in the production of vegetables under protected cultivation
technique and making suggestions for streamlining the same. The primary data for the year
2018-19 were collected from 40 poly house and 40 open field farmers from Ludhiana and
Jalandhar districts. The results revealed that the cost of establishment of polyhouse was to the
tune of Rs.18,70,000/4000m2 with subsidy. The total per acre cost of production of capsicum,
tomato and cucumber under polyhouse was higher by Rs.417233 (336.45%), Rs.420370
(328.73%) and Rs.398310 (343.02%) respectively than that of open field cultivation. The net
returns under polyhouses were higher by Rs.280582.90 (510.50%), Rs.157269.84 (233.49%)
and Rs.163925.05 (434.53%) respectively for the said crops in polyhouse cultivation. The
huge differences in cost of production in polyhouse cultivation of vegetables were due to the
use of more number of seedlings, costly seeds, high field and bed preparation cost and
requirement of skilled labour while expenditure on weeding and irrigation was found less in
polyhouse cultivation of vegetables. The yield of capsicum (111.05%), tomato (115.33%) and
cucumber (109.14%) in polyhouse cultivation was found higher as compared to open field
cultivation of vegetables. The cultivation of vegetables under polyhouse was found to be
feasible as reflected in higher values of NPV i.e. Rs. 17,61,915.66, Rs. 8,18,623.31 and Rs.
6,17,997.35 per 4000m2 with benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 1.3, 1.1 and 1.5 and Internal rate of
return (IRR) of 24%, 17% and 15% respectively for capsicum, tomato and cucumber. High
investment cost, lack of technical guidance, costly seeds, non-availability of skilled labour
and high cost of maintenance were the major constraints faced by polyhouse farmers. Despite
these constraints, cultivation of vegetables under polyhouse emerges as a profitable venture to
increase farmers‟ income.
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Citation
Manpreet Kaur (2020). Protected cultivation of vegetables in Punjab-an economic analysis (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.