Economic and Nutritional Analysis of Cabbage in India: Nutrient Supply Potential and Off-season Production Systems

Abstract

Background: Vegetables constitute an important component of nutrition-sensitive food systems due to their role in supplying essential vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre, and antioxidant compounds necessary for healthy diets. However, their nutritional contribution is influenced by spatial and seasonal production variability, affecting continuous access to nutrient-rich foods. Cabbage is a widely consumed vegetable with significant potential to contribute to dietary Ascorbic acid and fibre intake, but its nutrition supply varies across regions. Off-season cultivation plays a key role in stabilizing vegetable supply systems, particularly in hill regions of India. Aims: The study aimed to (i) assess the nutrient supply potential of cabbage in India using productivity-based nutrient estimation, (ii) analyse spatial variation in nutrient contribution and dietary requirement coverage, and (iii) evaluate cost of cultivation and profitability of off-season cabbage production. Study Design: The study adopted a dual analytical framework combining secondary data-based nutritional supply estimation with primary farm-level economic analysis. Place and Duration of Study: Nutritional analysis covered major cabbage-producing states of India, while farm-level economic analysis was conducted in Senapati district of Manipur during 2022–23. Methodology: Nutrient supply potential was estimated using productivity data integrated with nutrient composition values from IFCT (2017). Ascorbic acid and dietary fibre contents were expressed in kg/ha, and dietary adequacy was assessed using requirement coverage in person-days per hectare. A Nutrition Security Index was computed to capture spatial variation. Economic analysis employed Cost concepts like- Cost A₁, Cost B, and Cost C₂ frameworks along with profitability indicators such as net returns and output-input ratios. Results: The analysis revealed marked spatial variation in nutrient supply potential across states. Ascorbic acid content ranged from 2.01 to 20.05 kg/ha, while dietary fibre content ranged from 159.21 to 1588.33 kg/ha, with Kerala recording the highest values. Requirement coverage varied widely, from 25,125 to 250,625 person-days per hectare for Ascorbic acid and 6,368 to 63,533 person-days per hectare, indicating substantial inter-state disparity in nutrition contribution. The Nutrition Security Index ranged from 10.02 to 100, reflecting pronounced nutritional inequality across regions. At the farm level, off-season cabbage cultivation demonstrated high economic viability with a total cost of cultivation (Cost C₂) of ₹49,042.64 per hectare, gross returns of ₹234,927.40 per hectare, and net returns of ₹184,456.65 per hectare. Output-input ratios (4.22–5.08) indicated strong profitability across farm categories, with hired labour constituting the major cost component. Conclusion: The study concluded that cabbage contributes significantly to dietary nutrient supply potential, although with considerable spatial variation across regions. Off-season cabbage cultivation is economically viable and can enhance continuous availability of nutrient-rich vegetables. Strengthening off-season production systems and supporting resource-efficient cultivation can improve farmer incomes and contribute to nutrition-sensitive food system policies in hill regions of India.