Off Season Cultivation and Techno-Economic Evaluation of Okra Grown under Greenhouse

摘要

An experiment was conducted during winter 2007-08 and 2008-09 in a semi-cylindrical greenhouse 4 m×25 m each for cultivation of okra at Bhubaneswar in coastal Orissa, India. The greenhouse was effective in raising the temperature inside the greenhouse during cold nights, thereby, creating a better microclimate for production of higher yield and quality fruits than open field cultivation. The growth and yield of okra was better under greenhouse than open field cultivation. The yield of okra per sq m inside the greenhouse was 2.42 times more than open field conditions. The greenhouse was evaluated in terms of its techno-economic analysis, which was carried out by using different economic indicators such as Net Present Value, Benefit Cost Ratio, Internal Rate of Return and Pay Back Period and compared with open field cultivation. The net present worth of investment made on the greenhouse for cultivation of okra was Rs.11,056 as compared to Rs. 884 when grown in the open field. The benefit cost ratio for the greenhouse was 1.19 and 1.06 for open field cultivation. The internal rate of return for the greenhouse was 14 and 11 percent for open field cultivation. The pay back period for okra under the greenhouse was 14. Techno-economically cultivation of okra in winter under greenhouse would be acceptable by the farmers of Orissa.