Economic analysis of carnation cultivation under polyhouse conditions in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh

Flower cultivation under polyhouse is a fast emerging, money spinning component in the agricultural sector and has become the potential agricultural activity especially for the hilly states like Himachal Pradesh. Present study was conducted in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh to assess the cost and return structure for flower cultivation under polyhouse conditions. A sample of 60 polyhouse farmers 34 small (<500 m²) and 26 large (>500 m²) was selected by proportional allocation method from two development blocks of the district. Cost A1 for carnation cultivation was Rs.1,64,307 and Rs.3,53,669 on small and large polyhouse units, respectively. Expenses on human labour formed the major component of the total cost followed by planting material. The average price received per box (1000 sticks) was Rs.3,050 and Rs.3071 for small and large polyhouse units, respectively. The NPV of the carnation cultivation under small and large poly house units at 8 per cent discount rate was Rs 2.69 lakh and Rs 16.49 lakh, respectively. The BC ratio for small and large units confined to 1.18 and 1.56, respectively with an IRR 44.1 per cent and 229 per cent for small and large category polyhouse units.