Economic Evaluation and Mechanization Gaps of Vegetables Cultivation in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is an important vegetable crops growing state under irrigated conditions in an area of about 124 thousand hectares. The total production of vegetable is 27,860 thousand tonnes. Both the area and production of vegetables have been steadily increasing since 1980. The study was conducted in 8 major vegetables producing districts of Madhya Pradesh. Study is based on the primary data of 180 vegetable growers collected during the year 2005–07. Study revealed that there is a scope for mechanization of selected operations (transplanting/planting, inter–culture, manure & fertilizer application, spraying and harvesting). Majority of the vegetable growers shown their willingness to invest on the purchase of machine/implements for various operations. Small vegetable growers are more interested to use the machine through custom hiring. The study also revealed that the returns over variable cost in garlic cultivation were found highest (Rs 2,27,923/ha) followed by tomato (Rs 49,089/ha), potato (Rs 36,452/ha) and brinjal (Rs 26,270/ha). Benefit cost Ratio (BCR) was more than one in all the vegetable crops while it was more than double for garlic (4.83), onion (3.22), cauliflower (2.55), okra (2.32) and tomato (2.12). Thus, vegetables cultivation was found a remunerative and economically viable enterprise. Human labour utilization was observed maximum (277 man-days/ha) in garlic cultivation followed by tomato (271 man-days/ha), onion (200 man-days/ha) and cauliflower (168 mandays/ha). The most important socio-economic factor influencing the production of vegetables was the size of farm and education of the farmer.