Economics of cultivation of Melia dubia Cav.-Aloe vera L. silvi-medicinal model

Melia dubia is gaining popularity in Gujarat and farmers of the state are integrating various understory crops in M. dubia-based agroforestry. Present study which consisted of seven treatments viz., L₁-M. dubia (2×2 m) + Aloe vera, L₂-M. dubia (3×2 m) + A. vera, L₃-M. dubia (4×2 m) + A. vera, L₄-A. vera sole, L₅-M. dubia (2×2 m) sole; L₆-M. dubia (3×2 m) sole and L₇-M. dubia (4×2 m) sole was aimed to assess best spatial arrangement of M. dubia for A. vera. Among various treatments, on account of fresh A. vera leaf, baby plant and M. dubia wood production, highest net return of Rs. 3, 36, 360 ha ⁻¹ (benefit-cost ratio (BCR) 3.04) was obtained from L. On account of fresh A. vera pulp, baby plant and M. dubia wood production, the highest net return of Rs. 7, 44, 560 ha⁻¹ (BCR 3.82) was also accrued from L₁. However, M. dubia (4x2 m) sole cropping gave maximum BCR (3.71) among all land-use systems considering A. vera fresh leaf production in to account. The value addition due to pulp production provided higher net returns and BCR under all the systems. The net present value (NPV), internal rate of returns (IRR@10%), payback period (PBP) and BCR analysis expressed that among M. dubia-A. vera silvi-medicinal and sole cropping systems (either A. vera or M. dubia), the most economically viable systems could be M. dubia (2×2 m) + A. vera system. The economic analysis underpinned that NPV, IRR, PBP and BCR values are lesser on raw product (fresh A. vera leaf) production compared to pulp production.