Comparative Economic Analysis between Cultivation of Alstroemeria as a Cut Flower in Polyhouse and Traditional Crop Rotation Rice + Wheat

Abstract

<i>Alstroemeria (Alstroemeria </i>hybrids) which belongs to family Alstroemeriaceae is becoming popular as a new cut flower in our country. It is native to South America. Hilly area farmers have smaller size cultivated land as compared to plain area farmers. Farmers of hilly area can earn more per unit area by cultivation of cut flowers as compared to cultivation of traditional crop

rotation (rice+wheat). Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to study the comparative economic analysis between cultivation of <i>Alstroemeria </i>cut flower crop and &nbsp;traditional crop rotation. Cost and income by cultivation of <i>Alstroemeria </i>and traditional crop rotation were studied in 300 m² and 1 ha area, respectively. After three years, data were analysed and it was observed that the return of net income of Rs 0.439/ m²/year was obtained by cultivation of traditional crop rotation. For cultivation of <i>Alstroemeria </i>it was observed that since it requires high capital cost, therefore, net income return is negative by sale of its flowers in first and second year of crop. The maximum net return (Rs 549/ m²) was observed in second year of crop when growers become capable/or selling the newly produced rhizomes/plants. By cultivation of <i>Alstroemeria, </i>it was observed that net return of Rs. <i>128.70/m² </i>is obtained by sale of flowers in third year. If the grower gets money in third year of total capital investment in

first year, after three years of crop increase the net income comes to three times than the third year. This income is much morehan the income from the traditional crop rotation.