Economics Of Tomato Cultivation Inside Bamboo Plastic Tunnel In Lalitpur District Of Nepal

Plastic tunnel cultivation technology in mid-hills is emerging as a lucrative alternative to open-field cultivation in Terai for enforcing the self-sustenance of tomatoes in Nepal. A study was, therefore conducted in 2021 to evaluate the economic profitability of producing tomatoes using bamboo plastic tunnel in Lalitpur. Sixty tomato growers identified from purposive and snowball sampling were examined using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. The data collected was further supplemented by key informant interviews, focus group discussions and different secondary data sources. The average area, production, and productivity at the household level were determined as 0.43 ha, 30.42 MT, and 69.90 MT/ha respectively. The average cost of constructing a bamboo plastic tunnel (20×6 m2) and producing tomatoes inside them were NRs.35,800 & NRs.24,715 respectively. Labor was prominent variable cost component with share of 41.72%. The average annual gross revenue was NRs.1,82,729/ropani. Cobb-Douglas production function analysis exhibited significant relationship of inputs: labor, chemical fertilizer, seed, and irrigation costs with gross revenue and a decreasing return to scale of 0.406 indicated gross return reduces by 0.406 with a unit increase in inputs. Benefit-cost ratio (1.11), gross margin (NRs.1, 19,198), and net margin (NRs.1, 08,584) indicated tomato production inside a plastic tunnel is lucrative.