Production of marigold in Northern Karnataka: An economic analysis

Abstract

Floriculture stands out as a significant commercial activity within the horticulture sector. Its potential as a viable agribusiness has garnered recognition. Varied agro-climatic conditions across the country allow for the commercial production of flower crops. This sector offers employment opportunities to millions. Given the potential market demand and the lucrative prices of flower crops, there has been a noticeable surge in their cultivation, especially in the regions like Bellary and Belagavi districts of Northern Karnataka. With the rise in production and the increasing popularity of contract farming, it becomes crucial to conduct a comparative study on the cost of cultivation between direct farming and contract farming. Therefore, this study focuses on examining the cost of cultivation in marigold production in both direct farming and contract farming in Northern Karnataka. The research exclusively relies on primary data collected from 30 sample respondents through survey conducted during the agricultural year 2022-2023. Descriptive statistics and tabular analysis were utilized to analyse the data. The cost of cultivation of marigold amounted to Rs. 66,942.55 and Rs. 53,105.18 in direct farming and contract farming, respectively. Furthermore, the net return obtained was Rs. 88,111.98 and Rs. 26,094.82 in direct farming and contract farming, respectively. The return per rupee of expenditure was found to be 2.31 and 1.49 in direct farming and contract farming, respectively. Therefore Marigold cultivation through direct farming was profitable compared to contract farming.