“A study on hi-tech floriculture practices and its effect on profit generation of Abhinav farmers club with special reference to Pandare village (Pune).”

Corporate Guide:Dnyaneshwar Bodke

Presented By-Ekta kumariPGDM-RMRoll no-2907

Abhinav farmers club was founded by Mr. Dnyaneshwar Bodke on 15th august, 2004.

It is supported by NABARD and Canara Bank. There are 305 members involved in the club. 17

villages are covered by Abhinav farmers club. 112 SHGs group are promoted. Protected cultivation, dairy, floriculture, Indian and exotic vegetables are the activities performed by the club.

Other activities which are being performed by the club are training for farmers, exposure visits of bank officers and other government officials is also there.

Introduction

To study about hi-tech farming practices used in floriculture.

To study about the profit generation by using hi- tech farming practices in floriculture.

To give suggestion to Abhinav farmer’s club regarding strategies to increase its profits.

Objective of the study

Research Design

Universe

Sample Size

Tools used for Data Collection

Research Methodology

Exploratory Research

All the farmers involved in floriculture business in

Pandare Village and all the whole seller selling

floricultural products in Dadar market(Mumbai).

50 farmers and 30 Wholesalers

Questionnaire and interview method

Sampling Technique Purposive sampling

Data AnalysisPercentage and

frequency

Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only, or in an inert medium, such as perlite or gravel.

Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium (known as geoponics).

 A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of an area of soil. Its purpose is any or all of the following:

to conserve moisture to improve the fertility and health of the soil to reduce weed growth to enhance the visual appeal of the area

Hi-tech farming:

Polyhouse farming is one of the hi-tech farming technique used by the farmers.

This concept of polyhouse farming has enabled the agrarians grow exotic vegetables, flowers and fruits throughout the year and also help improve the depleting water table. Polyhouses are basically naturally ventilated climate controlled. It protects plants from wind, precipitation, excess solar radiation and temperature. Crops of good quality and higher yield can be grown. Water requirement is very less. Low labour intensive method helps in controlling pests and diseases. All these factors are making polyhouses favorable for cultivation. Although it requires huge investment but it is useful for the farmers in many ways.

Hi-tech practices

Polyhouses- It is a structure which is made of polyethylene to protect the

plant from different natural happening such as wind, rain, excessive sunlight etc.

One polyhouse is of 10000 sq.ft in area. Foggers are fitted inside the polyhouse which are used to

maintain the temperature required for the plant. Drip lines are passed over the bed prepared on which the

plantation is done.

Stand- A mess like structure is made over the bed which helps in

proper and straight going of the plant. It is necessary because stem is as important as flower for its

selling in the market.

Other practices- Disbudding Showering Applying fertilizers and pesticides to the plant. Cleaning of dried leaves. Harvesting Packaging & Dispatch

10 polyhouses are being used by the club for the cultivation of flowers(Carnation).

Hi –tech Activities performed: Disbudding Showering Applying fertilizers and pesticides to the plant. Cleaning of dried leaves. Harvesting Spraying

Hi-tech farming practices at Abhinav farmers club

Packaging and dispatch:Flowers are packed and dispatched through railways to the Dadar market(Mumbai).

Flowers in different bunches are packed in the box which reaches to the customer at Dadar market.

All the flowers are being send to the single whole seller.

10 times in a month the flowers are send to the whole seller.

Lack of proper maintenance of the structure of the polyhouse.

Foggers which are used to maintain the temperature of the polyhouse were not working.

Laborers working in the polyhouses were lacking proper training.

Scheduled treatment of plants were not done. Mites attack the flower due to unscheduled application

of pesticides.

Problems observed in the polyhouse of AFC

Expenses AFC Other growers

Labour charges Rs. 108000 Rs. 150000

Fertilizers & pesticides

Rs. 200000 Rs. 250000

Transportation Rs. 102000 Rs. 102000

Electricity Rs. 6000 Rs. 6000

Total Rs. 416000 Rs. 508000

Table showing comparative cost of production of carnation over 10000 sq.ft of land(Yearly)

Season AFC Other growers of Carnation

Off season Rs. 150000 Rs. 200000

Rest of the season Rs. 541600 Rs. 700000

Season Rs. 458300 Rs. 780000

Total Rs.1149900 Rs. 1680000

Table showing comparative selling price of Carnation(yearly)

Season Selling price in Rs.

Cost for AFC in Rs.

Profit generated in Rs.

selling price of other farmers flower in Rs.

Cost for other farmers in Rs.

Profit generated in Rs.

Off season

150000 104000 46000 200000 126999 308000

Rest of the

season

541600 225334 294666 700000 275167 192000

Season 458300 86666 353334 780000 105834 272000

Total 1149900 416000 733900 1680000 508000 1172000

Profit analysis of the basis of production in a polyhouse

Total profit in one year from one polyhouse = Total selling price – Total cost of production

Rs. 1149900 – Rs. 416000 = Rs. 733900(AFC)

Rs. 1680000 – Rs. 508000 = Rs. 1172000(Other growers)

Difference in Profit = Rs. 4,38,100

Calculation of profit from one polyhouse(Year)

Farming technique used

Most of the farmers were using Hi-tech techniques for cultivation of flowers.

Yes No0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

4584%

16%

Series1

Profitability

92%

8%

YesNo

92% farmers admitted that the profitability increases by using Hi-tech techniques.

Flowers grown by the farmers

Farmers were mostly growing gerbera because the demand is much high as compared to carnation and other flowers.

Carnation Rose Gerbera Others0

5

10

15

20

25

6%

34%

44%

16%

Series1

Flower purchased by the customers

Gerbera is mostly purchased by the customers as said by the whole sellers. Carnation Rose Gerbera Others

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

26.66%

13.33%

50%

10%

Series1

Most of the whole sellers said that Carnation is having highest profit margin as compared to other flowers.

Flower having highest profit margin

Carnation Rose Gerbera0

5

10

15

20

25

73.33%

16.66%

10%

Series1

Table showing profit from different flowers

Flowers Average cost of production

per flower

Average selling priceper flower

Profit per flower

Rose 75 paisa Rs. 3.50 Rs. 2.75

Gerbera 75 paise Rs. 3 Rs. 2.25

Carnation Rs. 2 Rs. 6 Rs. 4

Reason for sale of Carnation

Carnation is being preferred by the customer for its appearance and long lasting feature after being cut. Appearance Long Lasting Price Fragnance

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

30%

43.33%

13.33% 13.34%

Series1

As per the whole seller- Quality of the flower as compared to other growers

was low. Packaging was not done properly. Flowers were not lasting as long as it should. AFC is unknown about the quality of the flowers of the

other growers as none of the concerned person have visited the market from last 1 year.

Reason for low profit margin for AFC

AFC is growing only carnation. Carnation is having highest profit margin as compared to other

flowers growing in the area. Most of the farmers who were involved in floriculture

business were using Hi-tech farming techniques. AFC is having lesser profit than other growers of Carnation. Lack of training related to hi tech farming was found among

the labourers working in the field. Quality of carnation produced by the AFC were not up to the

mark.

Findings

Lack of proper packaging of flowers. Average selling price of carnation in season market was

Rs. 11 and in off season market it goes down to Rs. 3. Most of the farmers were growing gerbera even though

the profit margin is lesser than carnation but its demand is high.

None of the member of the club visited the market from last 1 year as said by the whole sellers.

Profit of AFC is lesser than the other growers of carnation.

Abhinav farmer’s club should diversify their production by growing more varieties of flowers which will certainly meet the changing pattern of the demand.

Improvement should be made in packaging of the flowers. Regular visit of the concerned person to the market should be done.

Improvement of quality: Proper maintenance of polyhouse should be done at regular

intervals. Farmers working in the field should have proper training about the

treatment of the plant. Schedules treatment of the plant should be done.

Suggestions: