Economics of Vegetable Seed Production in Arghakhanchi, Nepal

Jenny Shrestha; Shiva Chandra Dhakal; Avinash Shrestha; Shreena Pradhan; Sushma Adhikari

Abstract

Vegetable seed sector, though emerging both in area and production, knowledge regarding profitability and resource productivity is not clear among the seed producers. In this context, a study to estimate the economics of vegetable seed production was conducted in Arghakhanchi district of Nepal. Cost and return analysis showed that the average cost of production per Kg for bean, cowpea and pea seed was NRs. 145.78, NRs. 153.1 and NRs. 135.79 respectively and average revenue per Kg was NRs. 290, NRs. 350 and NRs. 150 respectively. The benefit cost ratio was highest for cowpea (2.96) followed by bean (2.04) but very low for pea (1.10) indicating the profitability from seed production for cowpea and bean in the study area . Human labor was found to be a major cost component. Gender, total land holding and experience of the respondents were the major socio-economic factors and cost incurred for labor, organic manure and plant protection were the inputs that had statistically significant relationship with the seed productivity. Major problem associated with production was damage by wild animals/ insects/ pests followed by insufficient irrigation whereas, the necessity to dry several times to attain desired moisture percentage was the major post-harvest problem and preference for imported seed rather than seed produced locally was the major problem in the marketing of produced vegetable seed. Hence, seed producers are recommended to use the input resources in efficient and economical way to increase the productivity and profitability from seed production. In addition to this, quality of locally produced seed should be upgraded to encourage the fresh vegetable seed growers to use seed produced henceforth to substitute import.Keywords: cost, human labor, resource efficiency, vegetable seedCite this ArticleJenny Shrestha, Shiva Chandra Dhaka ,Avinash Shrestha , Shreena Pradhan ,Sushma Adhikari . Economics of VegetableSeed Production in Arghakhanchi, Nepal .Research & Reviews: Journal ofAgricultural Science and Technology . 201 9 ;8 2 1 7 p.