Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) Production in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu–An Economic Analysis

The present study focussed on economics of production of Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. The main objectives of the study were to know the status of lime cultivation in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, state wise and country wise in India, to estimate the economics of lime production in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu and to study the constraints in production of lime and suggest suitable policy measures to overcome this problem in lime cultivation. Tamil Nadu is the universe of the study. Multistage random sampling method was used viz., state, district, Block, Villages and sample farmers. Tirunelveli district was purposively selected in proportion to the area under this crop. In this district, Vasudevanallur block was selected and lime growing villages selected based on the area proportion under this crop. A total sample size was 90 lime growers. The results were analysed by using percentage analysis and statistical analysis. As far as the status of the lime crop in India is concerned, there was an increasing trend observed in area and production from 2011-12 to 2017-18 by 15 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively whereas in Tamil Nadu, area was increased by 6.19 per cent and production by 40.51 per cent, respectively. Total cost of establishing lime orchard in the study area was estimated to be Rs. 97,701.30 per hectare. As regards the components of the cost, the establishment cost of men and women labour formed the single major cost items (42 %) followed by manuring cost, seedling cost, fencing cost, machine power charges, interest on land value, plant protection cost sharing 15 per cent, 12 per cent, 9 per cent, 9 per cent, 4 per cent and 4 per cent respectively. Thus, annual share of establishment cost was arrived to be Rs. 4,885.06. On an average the total cost per hectare for maintenance of lime crop was estimated to be Rs.91,902.60. Under maintenance cost, total operational cost and fixed cost were worked out to be Rs.83,402.90 (90.75 % of the total maintenance cost) and Rs. 8,500 (9.25 % of the total maintenance cost), respectively. The total cost of cultivation was calculated to be Rs.96,787.96 in which annual maintenance cost was estimated to be Rs. 91,901.90 and annual share of establishment cost was estimated to be Rs.4,885.06, respectively. The total cost of cultivation of lime crop per hectare was estimated to be Rs.96,787.96 in which annual maintenance cost was estimated to be Rs.91,902.90 annual share of establishment cost was calculated to be Rs.4885.06, respectively. On an average, lime crop was yielded 60 quintal per hectare per year in the study area. Aaverage market rate (Rs.80/kg) was taken as a unit price of the product and it was estimated to be Rs.8,000 per quintal. The gross return per hectare was calculated to be Rs. 4,80,000 and average net return over all cost of cultivation to be Rs. 3,83,212 per hectare per year after gestation period. In sum, net return from the lime cultivation was worked out to be Rs. 6,387 per quintal and it was estimated to be Rs.63.87 per kg of the lime fruits. The major problems felt by lime growers in the study area were price fluctuation in the market price, followed by weed infestation, pest and disease attack, labour shortage and death of young seedlings during earlier period of the lime production.