Estimation of producer surplus of Sponge Gourd (Luffa cylindrica) A multi-utility vegetable: Case study in Meghalaya

Vegetables are one of the important parts of the balanced diet and are consumed in large quantities. They are a great a source of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and other essential nutrients that are required for maintaining a healthy body. Cucurbits are group of vegetables that are highly valuable and generate income for the farmers. Sponge gourd is eaten as a vegetable when it is tender and is used as the loofah or dried luffa for washing and bathing purposes when the vegetable is matured. The marketed and marketable surplus of the sponge gourd was estimated as 83.80 per cent and 86.06 percent, respectively and for the loofah or dried luffa, the marketed and marketable surplus was found to be of 91.52 per cent and 93.95 per cent, respectively. It was found that marketed surplus was less than the marketable surplus which has shown better retention capacity of the farmers and there is no distress sale. The main reason of less marketed surplus was due to lack of proper transportation and storage facilities. Thus, recognizing this commodity for marketing in the state will help to enhance income of the farmers.