(Research Review) Vol 7-2025-52-62

Abstract

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND MARKET DYNAMICS OF AVOCADO CULTIVATION IN DHANKUTA DISTRICT, NEPAL

Journal: i TECH MAG (Research Review)
Author: Sulok Pokhrel, Surendra Panthi
DOI: 10.26480/itechmag.07.2025.52.62

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This study aimed to evaluate the economic viability of avocado cultivation in the Dhankuta district. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey involving 45 households engaged in avocado farming. Secondary data concerning production costs, strategies, minimum support price policies, and marketing channels were gathered from journals, articles, books, and newspapers. Data was processed and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize socioeconomic and farm characteristics of the respondents, whose primary occupation was predominantly agriculture. The analysis revealed a benefit-cost ratio of 1.53 and a gross margin of Rs. 128,646.80 per hectare, indicating profitable avocado production. The minimum support price for avocado was estimated at Rs. 122.28 per kilogram in the study area. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant relationship (p-value = 0.000) between the area under avocado cultivation and total household income, suggesting that increased avocado farming substantially enhances farmers’ earnings. Farmers reported that avocado cultivation was relatively easier compared to other crops. However, challenges such as scarcity of quality saplings and market price fluctuations were identified. Most respondents expressed moderate satisfaction with both production levels and the prices received. Overall, the findings demonstrate that avocado farming in Dhankuta is a profitable venture with relatively low initial investment, presenting a promising opportunity for rural livelihood improvement.

Pages 52-62
Year 2025
Volume 7