Capsicum cultivation under protected technology for higher income

The study analysed the differential in costs and returns structure of capsicum cultivation; use of plant protection chemicals and variability in yield and prices of capsicum under net house and open field production system. The study is based on primary data collected from 60 net house and 60 open field vegetable cultivators from Punjab state. The yield of capsicum was higher at 197 quintals per acre in net house than at 98 quintals per acre in open field cultivation. Gross returns over total costs were Rs 4.18 lakh and 1.69 lakh in open field capsicum cultivation respectively. The use of plant protection chemical was lower by 24.9 per cent in net house over open field cultivation whereas variability of yield and price was quite high in both the production systems.