Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Hydroponic Farming: Growing Lettuce Under Nutrient Film Technique In India.

Abstract

  In the present days there is a scarcity for availability of food in that too availability of nutritious food. According to The Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard supported by Global Alliance for Food Security, In 2022 over 203.1 million in 45 countries faced food crisis,and it is projected to reach 669.1 million by 2030. According to UNO- In India nearly195 million people undernourished which quarter and India ranks 68^th among 113 major countries in terms of food security index which is published in Economic Intelligence Unit.  This is because of use of pesticides and chemicals, lack of fertile soil, lack of water for farming and even some times scarcity of availability of land for cultivation. To overcome these issues, there is a need of upgrading farming techniques and methods and hydroponics is the best among them. It is not only solution for the above issues but also it of one of the most profit making industry. The initial investment required is high but it can yield great returns out of our investments. In this article we have analysed the Cost- Benefit of hydroponic farming. This study is conducted for the area of 5000 sqft. The analysis shows that there is a NPV is Rs.81,47,057 for the duration of 5years, Benefit-cost ratio is 5.317, PBP is less than 1 year i.e 9.43 months, Internal Rate of Return is 60.6% and profitability Index is 4.31. The study shows that the investment required for hydroponic farming is high but still it can be recovered within one year and sometimes it may take 1.5 years. Net present value is also high and Benefit cost ratio is greater than 1 hence the its also a good indication of adopting NFT in growing Lettuce. Internal rate return is ascertained considering 5% and 20% rates.