International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
T Saikia, S Bhattacharjya, S Borthakur, S Borgohain, M Neog, PK Pathak, RK Saud and H Gogoi

abstract
The soil and climatic condition of the NE India as well as Assam is very suitable for growing various horticultural crops like fruits, vegetables, spices etc. Production of all the horticultural crops is highly remunerative. But unlike fruits and spice crops, vegetable growers have to face lots of problems in selling seasonal vegetables due to market glut, high cost of production and labour intensive operations. Majority of the vegetable growers have to sell their produce at a distress price or they have to throw away their produces either due to lack of market or to avoid marketing cost. As a solution the farmers are advised for offseason vegetable production. Cultivation of high value offseason vegetables under low cost protected structures has been found to be a viable technology for growing vegetables throughout the year. The low cost polyhouse made of UV stabilized 200 micron polythene sheets supported on bamboos with sutli (ropes) and nails. It also act as rain shelter for crops during rainy season. Present study was undertaken during Feb, 2022- Jan, 2023 at Jorhat district of Assam with the objective to analyse the activities undertaken in polyhouses, cropping sequence followed, profitability and constraints of low cost polyhouses. 03 blocks of Jorhat district viz. Kaliapani, Dhekorgorah and Selenghat were selected and from each block, 10 nos. of vegetable growers under low cost polyhouse were selected randomly for the final sample. The sample farmers had partial shade poly houses i.e. covering only the upper portion by 200 micron UV stabilized polythene sheet. It was observed that the average investment cost in construction of partial shade poly house was Rs. 14550.00 per 100m² area. The sample farmers undertook mainly two activities in the partial shade net houses viz. seedling preparation and offseason vegetable production. Cropping sequence followed were C₁: vegetable seedling production + leafy vegetable (Aug-Oct) - cucumber (Nov-Jan)-capsicum (Feb-July) and C₂: vegetable seedling production + leafy vegetable (Aug-Oct) - cucumber (Nov-Jan)- tomato (Feb-July). Average gross income and variable cost per unit were Rs 46,000.00, Rs. 48,900.00 and Rs. 12,500.00, Rs. 12,800.00 obtained by the sample farmers in C₁ and C₂ respectively. Thus higher B.C ratio over variable cost was found in C₂ (3.82) as compared to C₁ (3.68). The sample farmers reported that the major disadvantage faced for expanding crop area is high investment cost.