Studies on yield and economics of high value vegetable crops grown under low-cost polyhouse in the mid-hill conditions of Meghalaya

Abstract

An experiment was conducted under naturally ventilated low-cost polyhouse during 2011-2013. The highest yield of tomato was recorded from cultivar Megha Tomato 3 (3.05 kg/plant), capsicum hybrid Pusa Deepti (0.88 kg/plant), chilli hybrid Fungale (0.99 kg/plant), King chilli genotype Red Long (0.98 kg/plant) and cucumber genotype, RCC 2 (4.28 kg/plant). From the economic analysis of cropping sequences, the highest per annum net income (Rs. 19,02,043.4/ha) was recorded from the tomato (Megha Tomato 3) – capsicum (Pusa Deepti) followed by Rs.8,10,082.0/ha from King chilli sole cropping and Rs. 15,60,163.4/ha from tomato (variety Megha Tomato 3) – chilli (hybrid Fungale) cropping sequence. However, the highest BC ratio (4.2) was observed from the King chilli sole cropping followed by tomato – capsicum cropping sequence (3.5). In all the crops, over 50% of the total cost of production was contributed by cost of polyhouse followed by operational cost. The farmers of the region can increase their income by adopting the above identified most economical crops, varieties and cropping sequences.