Cost and Return Structure of Vegetables in Different Agro-climatic Zones of Himachal Pradesh

The present study examined the cost and return structure for the profitable enterprise of vegetable cultivation in different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh during 2021-22. A stratified multistage random sampling technique was used to select the 400 respondents. The study revealed that per hectare cost of cultivation was highest for tomato (`167431.18), followed by capsicum (`154065.76)and lowest for cauliflower (`154065.76) among the selected vegetables. The output-input ratio of all the vegetables was more than one, implying that vegetable farming in the study area is a profitable agricultural endeavour. The findings of the study revealed that the provision of improved tools for the efficient use of labour, as well as the availability of marketing facilities, fertilizers, and pesticides at subsidized rates, were recommended to lower production costs and make vegetable cultivation more profitable to marginal and small farmers in the state.