Economics of Production and Marketing of Capsicum under Shed-net Cultivation in Maharashtra

Present investigation was under taken to study the resource use structure, cost and return structure, marketing cost, price spread and problems in production and marketing of capsicum under shed net condition. The study was based on primary data for the year 2013–14 collected from Pune and Nasik districts of western Maharashtra. The cost of establishment of capsicum production under shed net condition was ₹ 5, 51, 839.00 for 0.10 ha. The total cost of cultivation of capsicum production under shed net condition was ₹ 1, 59, 199.97 for 0.10 ha. Major contributing items in cost of cultivation of capsicum under shed-net cultivation were rental value of land (30.35%), human labour (16.85%), seedlings (15.58%), amortization cost (9.69%), manure (7.56%) and chemical fertilizer (6.44%). The per quintal cost of capsicum production under shed net condition was ₹ 1859.59/qtl. The average yield obtained was 85.61 qtls. The per quintal marketing cost was ₹ 570.65 incurred by capsicum growers under shed net condition. The net price received by capsicum grower was ₹ 2829.35/qtl. It was mainly due to higher transport cost (5.99%), packing material cost (3.22%) and packing (2.14%). Producer share in consumer Rupee was 67.31 percent. High initial investment, high cost of pesticides, lack of technical guidance, non-availability of labour, low market price and more price fluctuations were the major problems faced by capsicum growers under shed-net cultivation.