Comparative economic analysis of input application in orchid cultivation in Mirik and Kurseong blocks of Darjeeling district of West Bengal
Abstract
Requirement of labour and input gradually decreases as the orchid matures in Mirik Block. In the second year, labour requirements for inter-culture operations reduce. Labour requirement of manuring remains steady. By the third year, inter-culture labour requirement drops. Labour requirement for harvesting increases due to higher yield. The fourth and fifth years see stable labour and input needs. Harvesting labour is consistent. Total expenditure in the fourth and fifth years remains stable. Similarly, in Kurseong Block, the first year also sees high labour requirements, with pot preparation and sowing. In the third year (2020-21), intercultural costs drop and irrigation costs increases. By the fourth year (2021-22), costs remain relatively stable, with labour costs for manuring decreasing. In Mirik Block of Darjeeling District over five years, production drops in the second year, while the price per pot increases. In the third year, production further declines, the gross return increases. In the fourth year, production fell slightly, but with the price per pot rising. In Kurseong Block of Darjeeling District over five years. in the 2nd year, production drops. In the 3rd year, production further decreases. the price surges. The data shows a trend of declining production over time, while increasing prices help maintain significant gross returns across the five years.
Full Text
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Introduction
Floriculture is an age-old farming activity in India having massive potential for generating gainful self-employment among small and marginal farmers (Vahoniya et. al., 2018) [2] . The primary importing nations were the United States, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Canada. India has about 300 export-oriented units (Saxena, 2024) [1] . Among various ornamental crops, orchids hold a prominent position due to their unique aesthetic appeal, long shelf life, and high market value (Tiwari et. al., 2024) [3] . With India being home to nearly 1,200 orchid species, the country has a natural advantage in cultivating this high-value crop (Hegde, 2020) [4] . The Himalayan regions, particularly the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, provide a conducive environment for orchid cultivation, characterized by favourable climatic conditions such as moderate temperatures, high humidity, and well-drained soils. Darjeeling hills are the natural abode for count-less orchids like Cymbidium, Vanda, Dendrobium, Paphiopedilum, Lycaste, Odontoglossum, Phaius and Arundina (Chakraborty, 2019) [5] . Orchids are also found to grow commercially in different hilly areas of West Bengal for its favourable agro-climatic situation. The Mirik and Kurseong blocks of Darjeeling district, known for their thriving floriculture activities, have become focal points for orchid production. Here, smallholder farmers have increasingly adopted orchid cultivation as a sustainable livelihood option, complementing traditional agriculture. Despite its potential, orchid farming requires substantial initial investment, specialized cultivation techniques, and meticulous resource management. This underscores the need for a detailed economic analysis. This study seeks to bridge the knowledge gap by analyzing the production aspects.
Materials and Methods
The present study is carried out in Kurseong and Mirik Blocks of Darjeeling district, West Bengal. Systematic and scientific approach are followed to outline the results of the study conducted.
Source of data and sampling design
The present study is primarily based on micro level farm survey analysis. With a view to examine the components, a well-structured and pre-tested interview schedule is utilized for the collection of data from flower growers/cultivators in the study area.
Selection of District
The present work is undertaken to critically analyze the production and marketing of principal flowers and for selection of samples, a Multistage sampling technique is followed. Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India are purposively selected based on the availability of flower growers/cultivators
Selection of Blocks
Mirik and Kurseong blocks from Darjeeling district are selected purposively.
Selection of Clusters
In each of the Mirik and Kurseong Blocks, a nuclear village along with two adjacent villages are purposively selected to form a cluster of three villages. In each cluster, complete list of orchid producers are prepared separately. From each cluster, 25 sample producers are finally selected with the help of Simple Random Sampling without Replacement Method (SRSWOR) for the orchid growers. So, for the present study, 50 sample flower growers/cultivators have been selected from Mirik and Kurseong Blocks.
Analytical techniques
In order to fulfil various objectives, set-out, tabular method of analysis was followed. However, statistical tools are also used as and when required. The methodology for assessing the costs and returns of perennial crops differs from that of seasonal or annual crops. Static analysis is better suitable for seasonal and annual crops within a specific year or time, whereas perennial crops such as orchids necessitate inter-temporal analysis (Rae, 1971) [6] . Due to the challenges in obtaining time series data on the costs and returns of a single plantation throughout its entire lifespan, information was gathered from various growers with nurseries of differing ages, encompassing the crop's life cycle.
Results and Discussion
The Table .1 outlines the input and labour requirements for orchid cultivation in Mirik block from 2018-19 to 2022-23, summarizing the data across various farm sizes. In the first year, the establishment cost is ₹8,47,456, with labour involving 10 mandays costing ₹3,000. Pot preparation and sowing require 73,647 units (no's) at an input cost of ₹15,50,518.96, and labour of 20.60 mandays costing ₹6,180. Interculture practices demanded 25 mandays costing ₹7,500, while irrigation infrastructure (2,127.65 meters of pipes and tanks) require ₹29,833.49, along with 27 mandays costing ₹8,100. Fertilizer use in the first-year amounts to 263.58 kg at ₹10,275, requiring 14 mandays of labour costing ₹4,200. Manuring involves 5,798 kg at ₹1,07,563 with 16 mandays costing ₹4,800, and harvesting need12 mandays at ₹3,600. The total expenditure for the first year is ₹27,26,090.40, with labour costs at ₹37,380. In subsequent years, the input costs and labour requirements gradually decrease. Irrigation costs increase slightly, while manuring costs decrease. In the third year (2020-21), intercultural costs drop. and irrigation costs increase. By the fourth year (2021-22), costs remain relatively stable, with labour costs for manuring decreasing, resulting in an overall expenditure of ₹27,197.22 for that year. The Table .3 provides the year-wise production, average price per pot, and gross returns for pooled orchid cultivation in the Mirik Block of Darjeeling district over five years. In the first year, the total production is 38,988.57 pots per ha, with a price of ₹70 per pot, leading to a gross return of ₹50,22,915.95. Production drops to 9,821.09 pots per hectare in the second year, while the price per pot increases to ₹90, resulting in a gross return of ₹13,84,376.11. In the third year, production further declines to 4,336.49 pots per ha, but with the price rising to ₹350 per pot, the gross return increases to ₹21,19,764.11. In the fourth year, production fell slightly to 3,780.94 pots per ha, but with the price per pot rising to ₹400, the gross return amounts to ₹18,85,917. By the fifth year, production is 3,702.44 pots per ha, with the price reaching ₹450 per pot, resulting in a gross return of ₹18,61,534. Despite the decline in production over time, the steady increase in the price per pot helps maintain substantial gross returns.
References
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