Cost, Return, and Profitability of Vegetable Seed Production in Western Rukum, Nepal

Abstract

Vegetable seeds are high-value and low-volume products, and one of the promising sub-sectors for improving agricultural production, poverty reduction, and food security in Nepal. It is an extremely prioritized sector for uplifting livelihood of rural people. Due to an increase in the area under vegetable production for both the main and offseason, and replacement of locally produced seeds by the improved varieties, there is an increase in the vegetable seed demand. Nevertheless, only 50% of the national demand for vegetable seeds was met by domestic production. Western Rukum has long been known as the area with the most potential for vegetable seed production in Nepal. In this regard, this study was executed to assess the cost, return, and profitability of major vegetable seed production in the district. Altogether 201 sample households were selected using simple random sampling in 2017. The primary data were collected from household survey using a pre-tested semi-structured survey schedule and verified from a focus group discussion. The study showed that 13 types of vegetable seeds had been producing in the study area. Among them, onion seed, cauliflower seed, radish seed, and pea seed were primarily grown. The research revealed that all the major four vegetable seeds were profitable subsectors, where, cauliflower was the most profitable vegetable seed crop with B:C 1.78, followed closely by onion seed (1.68), radish seed (1.52), and pea seed (1.27). In contrast, the onion seed had the highest gross margin (NPR.121,682) per ha followed closely by cauliflower seed (NPR.117,136), radish seed (NPR.47,640), and pea seed (NPR.27,131). There is an opportunity to meet national demand, and to boost the local economy by promoting vegetable seed enterprises in the study area. The concerned stakeholders and policymakers need to focus on enhancing market linkage and farmers' technical know-how to promote vegetable seed production.