Profitability of exotic fruit crop: rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) – A study from Kerala

  Full text PDF

Kerala has been witnessing a rapid increase in the area under exotic fruits. The study was undertaken to evaluate the economic feasibility of rambutan cultivation, emphasizing cost and returns and major production constraints in Kerala. Primary data were collected from 120 farmers cultivating rambutan in the leading rambutan-growing districts of the state. A multistage sampling technique and field survey using a semi-structured interview schedule were employed for data collection. The amortisation technique was used to estimate the annual establishment cost. Findings of the study indicated that rambutan cultivation involves high initial investment during the establishment phase as well as high labour costs during the maintenance phase. Amortised establishment cost was estimated at Rs. 88325/ha/yr, accounting for about 37% of the total cultivation cost (Rs. 2.4 lakh/ha/yr). The farm-level average yield was 6.5 t/ha. Gross income and net profit were found to be Rs. 8.45 lakh/ha and Rs. 6 lakh/ha, respectively. Unfavourable weather, high establishment costs, and wild animal attacks were perceived as the major constraints to cultivating rambutan, suggesting the need to adapt to an evolving climate and develop cost-effective cultivation techniques. Though rambutan cultivation involves higher costs, its relatively higher yield and returns make the crop a preferred exotic fruit.