1Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, India
2Department of Social Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author: mehtatumdhwaj@gmail.com (ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9313-9797)
Online published on 7 May, 2025.
Kiwifruit cultivation is a promising avenue for horticultural development in the mid-hill regions of Arunachal Pradesh. An attempt has been made to study the economic and financial feasibility of Kiwifruit cultivation in Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh. This study was conducted in the Lower Subansiri district Employing a comprehensive approach through purposive sampling, a diverse array of 60 respondents, comprising farmers were engaged across selected villages, namely Tajang, Hija, Hong and Hari and two blocks- Ziro I and Hong-Hari within the district. Utilizing established analytical frameworks, including cost concepts and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR). From the study it was revealed that the total costs for establishing a kiwifruit orchard per hectare are ₹ 2,72,512.77 for small, ₹ 2,82,199.412 for medium, and ₹ 2,89,991.34 for large orchards, with an overall average of ₹ 2,81,567.8421. The total maintenance cost per hectare is ₹ 31,728.69 for small, ₹ 34,009.76 for medium, and ₹ 35,046.64 for large orchards, with an overall average of ₹ 33,595.03. The gross return from Kiwifruit orchard of small, Medium and large was ₹ 506700/ha, ₹ 5,01,750/ha and ₹ 4,93,200/ha respectively. Despite these cost escalations, returns above expenditure remain promising, with a combined benefit-cost ratio of 1.59, demonstrating the economic viability of kiwifruit cultivation, particularly for small-scale farmers. Moreover, the cost of establishing a kiwifruit orchard is high, thus the government may be advised to give direction to the financial institution to offer loans to the cultivators with fair interest rate. Majority of the orchardists do not get the better remuneration due to low prices of produce and price fluctuations as they are selling their produce immediately after harvest. The reasons for distress sale may be lack of cold storage and low shelf life of kiwifruit. Therefore, to tackle the problem cold storages should be established. Efforts are essential to unlocking the full economic potential of kiwifruit cultivation for fostering sustainable agricultural development and livelihood improvement within the hilly regions of Arunachal Pradesh.
⓿ Kiwifruit of Arunachal Pradesh has established a commercial identity in both national and local marketplaces.
⓿ The gross return from Kiwifruit orchard of small, Medium and large was ₹ 506700/ha, ₹ 5,01,750/ha and ₹ 4,93,200/ha respectively.
⓿ Single window delivery system should be encouraged in the hilly regions of Arunachal Pradesh.
Kiwifruit Cultivation, Cost Concept, BCR, Economic Potential, Arunachal Pradesh
