Status and impact of protected cultivation of horticultural crops in Maharashtra

Protected cultivation of high value crops has taken pivotal role for increasing higher productivity and increasing income of the farmers. This study was undertaken to analyse the status and impact of protected cultivation of horticultural crops in the Pune and Nasik districts of Maharashtra during 2018-19. The cumulative area covered under protected cultivation by National Horticulture Mission in Maharashtra is about 4478 ha, of which 61% is under shade net house and 37% is under naturally ventilated polyhouse. Farm business analysis shows that among four crops grown under polyhouse, carnation was the best option for farmers getting maximum net income of (sic)2.22 lakhs per year for 1000 sq.m area. Similarly, among four crops grown under shade net house, capsicum was found to be the best option for realizing maximum net income of (sic)1.03 lakhs per eight months for 1000 sq.m area. Fractional logit model shows that the age of household, farm size, household income and access to subsidy were the significant factors for the proportion of total farmland allocated to protected cultivation. Higher initial investment, high cost of planting materials, incidence of pests and diseases, poor price received etc., were the most important constraints in adoption of protected cultivation. Thus, it is suggested that the government support in the form of capital subsidy needs to be strengthened further to enhance adoption rate and also high value crops such as anthurium and orchid which provide high income to the farmers need to be focused on.