Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) Cultivation in Punjab — An Appraisal of Profitability and Nutrition

The study has examined production, cost-return structure, market system/potential of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) based on the experience of 53 bitter gourd producers spread across 14 villages of two districts of Punjab and 400 consumers surveyed for their consumption pattern of bitter gourd vegetable during 2012. The majority of respondents undertook the production of bitter gourd at small scale and adopted pandal cultivation using hybrid varieties to produce light green medium-size variety of bitter gourd, keeping in view the consumers’ preferences. Overall gross returns were found to be 365370/ha as against the total cost of 126557/ha, leaving behind 238813/ha as the net returns. On an average, the total cost of output was estimated to be 5.98/kg. The profit margin was estimated to be 65.6 per cent. Marketing of produce to wholesalers was the most preferred marketing outlet for the majority of farmers in Punjab. The market potential of bitter gourd vegetable was found to be quite high as the consumers were willing to pay additional price for the improved quality of produce which could better help in lowering blood glucose level, keeping all other properties (lowering of blood pressure and cholesterol) of bitter gourd intact.