Computation of Economic Feasibility of Brinjal and Palak Intercropping System

Aim/Objective: To evaluate the economic feasibility of brinjal–palak intercropping system. Study Design: Randomized Block Design. Place and Duration of Study: Research Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during 2016-17. Methodology: Experiment comprised of 11 treatments with three replications of palak (20 x 5 cm) as intercrop with brinjal (60 x 60 cm) and paired row brinjal (30/60 x 60 cm). Results and Discussion: Brinjal + palak (single row) gave the highest production efficiency (532.3 kg/days), net returns (Rs. 222652) and benefit to cost ratio (3.76) due to low cost of production, closely followed by paired row brinjal + palak (two rows). Paired row brinjal + palak (two rows) intercropping system also exhibited maximum gross returns (Rs. 304598), monetary advantage index (MAI) (Rs.139055), replacement value of intercropping (RVI) (2.47), relative value total (RVT) (3.79) and relative net return (RNR) (2.71). This may be attributed to additional advantage of intercrop yield and higher economic value of intercropping. Conclusion: From farmer’s point of view, the treatment paired row brinjal + palak (two rows) was considered to be the most remunerative one among all the respective treatments due to its higher MAI, RVI and RNR.