Economic Analysis of Gerbera Cultivation in the Protected Condition in South Gujarat

Abstract

Surat and Navsari are the major districts cultivating Gerbera under protected condition in South Gujarat region. The production of gerbera in Surat and Navsari districts was 612.5 metric tonnes during 2015. A major challenge before the Gerbera cultivators is to minimize the cost and increase the returns. Keeping in view the challenges the present study was conducted to estimate costs and returns of gerbera cultivation under protected condition. For the present study 50 polyhouses were selected from Surat and Navsari districts. The primary data collection for cost and return analysis was done with schedule by personal interview method for year 2015–16. An establishment cost and cost of cultivation per acre was worked out by using standard cost concepts. The results of study showed that establishment cost, cost of cultivation, gross return and net return for gerbera was 49.51, 17.61, 29.08, and 11.47 lakh per acre, respectively. The highest share was of cost of construction of polyhouse (64.05 percent) and charges of human labour (18.39 percent) in establishment cost and cost of cultivation, respectively. The output-input ratio was worked out to 1.65 indicated that the Gerbera cultivation was profitable under protected condition in the selected study region. Attack of pest and diseases, high cost of construction of polyhouse were the major constraints faced by the Gerbera growers in production.