K P Timsina, K Ghimire, UK Acharya & KP Shrestha
Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)

Abstract

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) cultivation is popular in Nepal and is profitable to farmers. Although the Terai region produces and sells more cauliflower, hilly region produces has better value. A study on production and marketing potentiality of cauliflower from the perspective commercialization was conducted in Taplejung district in 2010, where membership of Commercial Agriculture Alliance (CAA) was distributed. Two hundred twenty seven farmers from four VDCs were selected purposively. The regression analysis showed that income from cauliflower has significant (p<0.01) contribution to total household income. Around 80 percent farmers were buying Seeds from agro-vets. Most of the farmers were using hybrid varieties such as White Sticks,Snow Crown and Snow Mestique. Average area used per household for cauliflower production and its productivity was found 0.52 Ropani (0.026 ha) and 947 Kg/Ropani (18.94 tons/ha) respectively. The cost of production per Kg cauliflower was NRs. 5.7. Means of transportation to district headquarters was by human labor and its cost ranged from NRs. 2-5 per Kg whereas transportation cost from district headquarters to Birtamod market was ranged from NRs. 4-6 depending up on season. Gross margin of cauliflower per Ropani was NRs. 32,406 (648,120/ha) and the benefit cost ratio was 6.9. The highest average price of cauliflower (NRs. 35-37.5 per Kg) at Birtamoad wholesale market was found in July to October, whereas the highest average price of cauliflower (NRs. 50 per Kg) at Taplejung market was found in March to July. About 11.90 and 47.10 percent household has been practicing collective farming and collective marketing respectively. However, hundred percent respondents were thinking about collective marketing in future. Findings revealed that access to collection centre, high transportation cost, and insufficient knowledge on improve technologies and post harvest handling were the major problems, whereas suitability of climate, availability of improved technology, improving access to road and communication, uniting and thinking about collective marketing were the major strengths for cauliflower production in the district. Findings indicated that there was high potentiality of commercial cauliflower production in Taplejung district; however, it will be necessary to suitably adjust by creating time and place utility in future