Parminder KaurManpreet Kaur2021-05-312021-05-312020Manpreet Kaur (2020). Protected cultivation of vegetables in Punjab-an economic analysis (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810169423The 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.EnglishThesis