Economic analysis of the production of commercial vegetables with saline water drip irrigation in naturally ventilated polyhouse

Abstract: Production of vegetables under protected cultivation is necessary to meet the continuous demand across the seasons. Due to the capital and labour-intensive nature of the polyhouse technology, majority of Indian farmers with small and marginal category (>85%) cannot afford it. On the other hand, 6.73 million hectare land area in India is affected by salinity, which hampers crop production hence the area under vegetable cultivation is shrinking as the majority of vegetables are sensitive to salinity stress. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of saline water drip irrigation on production of capsicum, green chilli and tomato crops in naturally ventilated polyhouse. The economic analysis revealed that the estimated cost of polyhouse construction (300 m²) with drip irrigation system was ?4,71,563 and the overall cost (cost C₃) of vegetable production under polyhouse was estimated to be ?2,15,623. Among capsicum, green chilli and tomato crops grown in the polyhouse, overall net returns over cost C₃ was highest from tomato followed by capsicum and green chilli. The economic indicators were very encouraging with positive net present value, higher benefit-cost ratio, higher internal rate of returns, and shorter payback period. The investigation also suggests the viability of saline water drip irrigation for commercial cultivation of vegetables in naturally ventilated polyhouse, which is not possible under the natural environment with saline water drip irrigation.