Economics of Apple Production in High Density and Traditional Orchard in Manang, Nepal

Abstract

This study was carried out in Manang district of Nepal to investigate and compare the economics of traditional and high density apple farming. Fifty farmers were selected by census survey method and interviewed with pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. While ten progressive traditional apple farmers were selected purposively. The cost of production of high density and traditional apple farming in one ropani land for single year was NRs. 48,404 and NRs.51,015 respectively. Similarly, the benefit-cost ratio for high density apple farming was found in the range of 1.8 in the 4^th year to 3.47 in the 7^th year. The study revealed that high density system was more profitable than traditional system with the satisfactory value of B:C ratio and shorter payback period (3.44 years) while it was 9.002 years for traditional system. The findings suggest that production and income can be further maximized if the problems of transportation, disease and insect pest and marketing are solved and inputs are made available in time.