An Economic Analysis of Lettuce Production under Protected Cultivation in Marathwada Region of Maharashtra State, India

Abstract

Adoption of protected cultivation technology can improve yield and productivity of lettuce in area were lettuce not commonly grown. In present study, an attempt is made to work out the economic analysis of lettuce production under protected cultivation in Marathwada region of Maharashtra at Department of Horticulture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani during Rabi 2021-22 and 2022-23. Growing of lettuce under polyhouse is proving to be very remunerative venture to the grower as it fetches maximum returns in the market. Cost is the major issue in sustaining this technology. Simple tabular analysis and standard cost concept was used to work out the cost of cultivation. The study revealed that the application of treatment T6 [S2F1I2] i.e. Cocopeat + perlite (1:1) + 100% + three days interval recorded highest marketable yield (112.99 kg, 110.45 kg and 111.72 kg), highest gross income of (₹ 67792.90, ₹ 66272.26 and ₹ 67032.58) and maximum net returns (₹ 39363.93, ₹ 37271.74 and ₹ 38317.83) along with the highest benefit cost ratio of (2.38, 2.29 and 2.33) per 108 square meter area during the year 2021-22, 2022-23 and pooled mean, respectively.