An Economic Appraisal of Apple Cultivation in Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

The research focused on analysing the economic aspects of apple cultivation in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, covering cultivation costs, production aspects and returns. The study revealed that production costs increased with the age of the plants. The initial production cost for a hundred plants was ₹ 37,405.13, which rose significantly to ₹ 89,452.83 for plants > 22 years. The findings highlighted that the 17–22-year age group of plants achieved the highest productivity, yielding 82.78 quintals per hundred plants. This age group also recorded the highest gross return of ₹ 5,99,391.55 per hundred plants, demonstrating the economic potential of apple cultivation during this growth phase. Financially, the payback period for apple plantation was determined to be 8 years, showing a favorable timeframe for investment recovery. The Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) was calculated to be ₹2.16, indicating that the venture is economically viable. Among the various blocks analysed, the Jubbal-Kotkhai block recorded the highest BCR of ₹2.25, underscoring its superior profitability for apple cultivation in the district.