Economics of cultivation and marketing of passion fruit in Karnataka

Passion fruit is a native of the South American rain forests of the Amazon region, and is found in the forests of Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Karnataka in India. Brazil ranks first in its production (4 lakh tonnes), while in India its production is only 0.5 lakh tonnes. It has a great demand in many countries, the major importing countries of passion fruit essence being the USA, Holland, Germany and France. In this paper, an estimation of cost and returns of cultivating passion fruit has been presented along with the economic viability of its cultivation and economics of its marketing and processing. The study is based on data collected from the 15 planters in Gonikoppa area in Karnataka and Kodagu Orange Growers Co-operative Society, Gonikoppa, during 2000–01. The establishment and maintenance cost in planting year 2000–01 has been found as Rs. 71,500, with yield per hectare as 200 quintals in the second and 250 quintals in the third and subsequent years. Net return per hectare in the third year has been worked out as Rs. 81, 125. The estimated economic life of passion fruit garden is six years and the Net Present Value (NPV) is Rs. 1,55,395 per hectare yielding a benefit-cost ratio of 2.17 at 15 per cent discount rate and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 67per cent. Passion fruit juice has an excellent international market. The cultivation of passion fruit in Kodagu district has been found as economically viable. Some other positive implications of its cultivation are also mentioned.