Economics of mandarin production in Nagpur district of Vidarbha region
Shraddha Bhajan, NT Bagde, VJ Rathod, SL Deotale and Sakshi Gajbhiye
This study was conducted during 2023-24 and focuses on the financial aspects of mandarin cultivation. Data were collected from 40 farmers across three tehsils namely Katol, Kalmeshwar, and Narkhed. The total cost of establishing a mandarin orchard over five years was Rs. 371427.43, with an annual establishment cost of Rs. 13265.27 over the orchard’s productive lifespan of 28 years. The per-hectare cost of cultivation of mandarin orchards was examined Rs. 239974.85, with cost categories 'A1' and 'A2' amounting to Rs. 128456.88, representing 53.53% of the total costs. Among these, manure accounted for the largest share at Rs. 32,092.94 (13.37%), followed by plant protection was Rs. 19540.20 (8.14%). The highest input-output ratio at cost 'C3' was 1.86, indicating that mandarin cultivation is a profitable venture. However, major challenges faced by mandarin growers included significant fruit drop due to irregular and heavy rains, wind, hailstorms, and pest infestations, particularly from Phytophthora. Additionally, there was a general reluctance among farmers due to the high initial investment required for orchard establishment.
Shraddha Bhajan, NT Bagde, VJ Rathod, SL Deotale, Sakshi Gajbhiye. Economics of mandarin production in Nagpur district of Vidarbha region. Int J Res Agron 2024;7(9S):614-619. DOI: 10.33545/2618060X.2024.v7.i9Si.1556