Economic Analysis of Mango Cultivation in Lucknow District of Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Mango is a tropical fruit which is nutritionally rich in beta carotene, vitamin A, C and D. So it is also known as “King of the Fruits”. Mango cultivation is a significant agricultural activity in India, contributing to both regional economy and food security. This study was based on the agricultural year 2021-2022 and the primary data was collected using personal interviews with the mango farmers in the Lucknow district of Uttar Pradesh. The study, explored the cropping pattern employed by farmers and crop intensity  of mango cultivators which was highest in case of small farmers (153.46 percent) in the study area, alongside a detailed cost estimation using cost function and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) to evaluate the economic viability of mango farming under different scenarios, which revealed that the efficient resource utilization and optimized farming practices lead to higher profitability as the average BCR is more than 2 solidifying that mango cultivation is a highly profitable venture. In addition, this study identified key constraints faced by mango cultivators using the Garret ranking technique such as Shattering of flower and dropping of premature fruits and outbreak of insect, pest and disease which serve as valuable guide for policymakers, agricultural advisors, and farmers aiming to improve cultivation practices and economic outcomes.