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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Cashew is known as ‘maintenance free’ crop. Due to improvement in health consciousness of people cashew is gaining importance not only in domestic markets but also in international markets. The study was conducted in Konkan region of Maharashtra and is based on both primary and secondary data collected from120 respondents and data were analyzed by using standard statistical tools (i) compound annual growth rates (CAGR)and graphical representations to draw the overview of trends in area, production and productivity of cashew in India and Maharashtra (ii) budgeting technique to work out the economics of cashew cultivation (iii) financial feasibility tests to know the feasibility of investment in cashew plantation. The study revealed that both area and production of cashew has been increasing in the country as well as in Maharashtra over the past years. The establishment cost (initial investment cost and maintenance cost during gestation period) accounted to Rs. 1,19,287/ha in Ratnagiri and Rs. 1,31,155/ha in Sindhudurga district. Cost of cultivation during bearing period was Rs. 55,054/ha in Ratnagiri and Rs. 68,858/ha in Sindhudurga. Average market price of raw cashew was higher in Sindhudurga district. Gross returns was Rs. 2,78,775/ha in Ratnagiri and Rs. 3,44,700 in Sindhudurga and net return was Rs. 2,25,380 and Rs. 2,79,206. Feasibility analysis revealed that, the NPV @ 12 percent discount rate, BCR, IRR and payback period were Rs. 9,72,207 and Rs. 11,38,561, 3.95 and 3.86, 65.68% and 68.73% and 5.7 years and 5.6 years respectively in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurga districts. Therefore, investment in cashew was financially feasible in both the districts of Konkan Maharashtra.