An economic analysis of organic farming package for system-based high-value crops

A comparative study has been made of eight organic packages with pure inorganic, pure organic, organic + inorganic, and organic + biofertilizer combinations for high-value crops (maize-potato-onion) on the basis of productive efficiency, economic return, B:C ratio and profitability. The study has been conducted at the farm of C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur for three consecutive years, viz. 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06. The data on organic productivity in terms of potato equivalent yield have reflected an increasing trend for all the three years. Among all organic packages, Treatment-6 (1/3 recommended N through FYM + 1/3 through vermicompost + 1/3 through neem cake + azobactor PSB) has depicted highest yield of 49.5 t/ha potato equivalent, which is at par with that of 100 per cent pure inorganic, but in economic terms, Treatment-5 (50% N through FYM + azobactor + rock phosphate + PSB) has shown highest net return of Rs 97,274/ha with profitability of Rs 226/ha/day. This treatment has proved to be economical with the highest B:C ratio of 2.04 among all the organic packages tried. According to the study, in the short-run, inorganic treatments have been found to perform well in terms of profitability and return, but in the long-run, the organic and organic + biofertilizer treatments perform well in terms of productivity, returns and profitability with sustainability of natural resources and safety of environment.