Economic Analysis of Garlic Cultivation in Baran District of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Garlic is an important commercial spice crop that contributes significantly to farmers’ income. The present study was conducted in Baran district of Rajasthan to analyse the cultivation costs and returns in garlic. Primary data were collected from 80 garlic farmers during the agricultural year 2023–24 through the personal interview method using a structured schedule. Data collected were analysed using the standard cost concepts recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) to estimate the component-wise cost of cultivation, different cost concepts and profitability of garlic cultivation. The results revealed that the average total cost of garlic cultivation was ₹193,415.34 per hectare. Operational costs constituted the major share (89.1%) of the total cost, while fixed costs accounted for 10.9%. Garlic cloves were the largest cost component, contributing 46.9%t of the total cultivation cost, followed by human labour (20.0%) and machine labour (8.1%). The average gross return, net return and production costs were estimated to ₹552,775.37 per hectare, ₹359,360.02 per hectare and ₹3,502.63 per quintal, respectively. The input–output ratio was found to be 1:2.86, indicating that garlic cultivation was economically profitable in the study area. The study concludes that garlic cultivation offers substantial economic returns to farmers. Improving access to quality seed, reducing labour costs through mechanisation and promoting efficient input use can further enhance the profitability and sustainability of garlic cultivation in Rajasthan.