Economic feasibility and profitability of carnation cultivation

Carnation, a cut flower, has been the opted choice for diversification under polyhousc cultivation in Pune and Bangalore regions. Economic feasibility of production indicated it to be highly profitable and eco-nomically viable in both the regions. However, use of cost effective methods appear to cut down the erection costs by 50% in Bangalore in comparison to that in Pune. Similar cut in costs was seen in other items such as the inner net, drip irrigation system and bed preparation in Bangalore, thereby reducing the over all cost of establishment by 27% at Rs. 3,08,155/500m2 polyhouse as against Rs. 4,22,585/500 m2 in Pune. The annual maintenance costs worked out to Rs. 1,81,822 in Bangalore while it was Rs. 1,56,012 in Pune indicating a better maintenance strategy. The productivity was higher in Bangalore at 14 cut flowers/plant/annum as compared to 10 cut flowers/plant/annum in Pune. Over all the gross returns and BCR were higher in Bangalore at Rs. 438,668.9 and 2.69, respectively. The economic viability and feasibility analysis indicated mat the production of carnation to be highly profitable and economically viable in both the places, with a Net Present Value (NPV) of Rs.3,56,302 in Bangalore and Rs. 1,21,839 in Pune. Results indicated that growers could expand the area under this cut flower, but should undertake self marketing in distant markets to reap higher profils.