Vol. 14, Issue 8 (2025)

Author(s):
Jinal V Sabhaya and AS Shaikh

Abstract:
The present study examines the cost and returns of castor cultivation in Middle Gujarat, focusing on two major castor-growing districts: Ahmedabad and Vadodara. A total of 120 farmers were selected through multistage random sampling from four talukas and twelve villages. Data were collected via personal interviews using a pre-tested questionnaire. The findings revealed that the average Cost C2 of castor cultivation was ? 76,359.18 per hectare, with marginal farmers incurring the highest cost among all farm categories. The average net return over Cost C2 was ? 67,771.97 per hectare, indicating significant profitability. The overall input-output ratio based on Cost C2 was 1:1.86, confirming that castor cultivation remains economically viable across all farm sizes despite cost variations. Major production constraints identified were high labour cost, followed by adverse weather conditions pest infestations and high input cost.