The study was undertaken in saline and non-saline area to acquire knowledge about watermelon cultivation and assess profitability from its cultivation. In most cases, cultivation practices varied between the locations. The total variable cost was Tk. 50826/ha and Tk. 43005/ha in saline and non-saline areas respectively. Gross margin was Tk 48660/ha in saline area while it was Tk. 58895/ha in non-saline area. Benefit cost ratio was 1.96 and 2.37 in saline and non-saline are respectively.
Comparative, profitability, watermelon, saline, non saline.
Noakhali and Panchagarh district
i. To acquire knowledge about watermelon cultivation in saline and non-saline area and
ii. To assess profitability from the cultivation of watermelon in saline and non-saline area
The present study was undertaken in two locations; One is ‘Sheebcharan’ village under sadar upazila of Noakhali district which is adjacent of our ICBA-BARI project site where soil salinity is relatively low and another one is located in ‘Harivasha’ village under sadar upazila of Panchagarh district where salinity in the soil is zero. A simple questionnaire was interview and group discussion. A total of 20 farmers equally represented by 10 farmers from each location were interviewed through questionnaire. Besides, a group was constituted by the minimum number of five farmers. A total of 6 groups, 3 from each location were constituted and discussed with them about watermelon cultivation in the area. Then, collected data from the both way were cross checked and analyzed using percentage, average, ratios etc and are presented in tabular form. The investigation and analysis of data covered the period from March to June, 2005
prepared to collect the desired information. Date were collected in two ways; through interview and group discussion. A total of 20 farmers equally represented by 10 farmers from each location were interviewed through questionnaire. Besides, a group was constituted by the minimum number of five farmers. A total of 6 groups, 3 from each location were constituted and discussed with them about watermelon cultivation in the area. Then, collected data from the both way were cross checked and analyzed using percentage, average, ratios etc and are presented in tabular form. The investigation and analysis of data covered the period from March to June, 2005.
Annual Research Report 2005, Agricultural Economics Division, BARI, Gazipur
Costs are the expenses incurred in organizing and carrying out the production process. They include out lays of funds for inputs and services used in production. In the present study, only variable costs were considered in the cost calculation.The total variable cost was higher (Tk 50,826/ha) in saline area than that of non-saline area (Tk 43,005/ha). The higher cost of cultivation in saline area was due to mainly higher number of human labour requirement and higher wage rate for the cultivation of watermelon compared the non-saline area. Among the cost items, cost of human labour was the higher in both the areas which shared 55% of the total cost in saline area and 28% of the totals cost in non-saline area (Table 5). Numbers of fruits per hectare were more (6516) in saline area compared to non-saline area (4076) whereas, size of fruits were big in non-saline area than that of saline area (Table 6). The reason for this could be that farmers in non-saline area allow only one fruits per plant to grow but farmers in saline area allow more than one fruits per plant to grow. Gross return was calculated higher (Tk 1, 01,900/ha) in non–saline area compared to saline area (Tk 99,486/ha). Consequently, Gross margin was higher (Tk 58,895/ha) in non-saline area that of saline area (Tk. 48,660/ha). The benefit cost-ratio was also higher (2.37) in non-saline area compared to saline area (1.96) which indicates that cultivation of watermelon is profitable in both are areas.
Report/Proceedings