Okra Farming Cost, Profits (Bhindi) – A Project Report

Okra Farming Cost and Profits for 1 Acre Cultivation

Today, we discuss the topic of okra farming cost and profit for 1-acre cultivation.

We all know that Vegetable Farming is one of the profitable farming as compared to other crops. Among the vegetable crops, Okra farming is one of the agrifarming where a farmer or agripreneur can earn income with a minimum amount of investment. Okra is also called a Lady’s finger. Okra Farming is mostly done in the month of February to April. However, you can also go for cultivating any season. It is better to go for greenhouse Okra farming if you wish to cultivate around the seasons.

Some facts about growing okra (bhindi):

• Okra plantation should be done in full sun and frequent watering should be applied to your Okra plants for best yield.
• Usually, Okra seeds start germinating in 3 to 10 days after sowing depending on seed and soil quality. When it comes to the height of okra plants. it can grow up to 6 feet tall depending on the variety.
• Okra seeds are recommended to sow 1 inch deep and seed spacing of 6 inches. However, okra row spacing should be 30 inches. Once okra seeds are germinated, you can have a seedling distance of 15 to 18 inches.
• Though Okra plants can reach a height of 5 feet to 6 feet, they don’t require any support or trellis.
• Use Epsom salt to improve flower blooming and to improve the plant’s green color.
• Okra plant is not perennial but an annual plant.
• If Okra plant leaves are turning green to yellow, meaning that the plants are impacted by root rot disease.
• There are many reasons why okra seeds are not germinating. One of the main cause is not maintaining a minimum soil temperature of 22°C.
• The best companion plants for Okra are Chillies or hot and Sweet Peppers.
• Before planting on a commercial scale, a soil test is needed to check for any nutrient deficiencies. Okra thrives best on soils with a pH value of 5.7 to 6.5. Some times, a lime supplementation in the soil may be required.
• Okra is a mixed crop and not a cash crop.
• Commercial okra growers should consider organic mulch or plastic mulch for water conservation and weed control.
• If you are growing okra for seed purpose, leave okra on the plant itself until they get matured and dried.

Read: Guava Fruit Farming.

Varieties suitable for Okra cultivation:

There are various types of hybrid as well as local cultivars available in the market. It may be good if you for the cultivation of local variety available at regional government agriculture offices. However, it may also be profitable if you go for hybrid okra cultivation. There are a lot of Okra varieties available in the market. Selection of the Okra variety also varies with the area or region of Okra farming. We have listed some of the local Okra varieties released by various government institutions or organizations and government research centers.

Okra Varieties for high yield:

• PusaMakhmali
• Punjab no. 13
• Punjab Padmini
• PusaSawani
• ParbhaniKranti
• Arka Anamika
• Other Hybrid varieties

Cost of Cultivation of Okra Farm:

Cost of the Okra seed:

The cost of Okra seed depends on a region and it varies. However, on average we require 7 kg of seed for 1ha. Therefore, for one acre we require 3kg per acre okra cultivation. The cost of 3 kg seed is Rs. 2700 at the rate of Rs. 900 per Kg Okra seed.

Read: Watermelon Farming Techniques, Ideas.

Cost of seed treatment: We require 2 to 3 gm of pesticides to go Okra seed treatment where we require 10 gm of two to three pesticides. It will cost around Rs. 300 for Seed treatment of Okra.

Cost of Land: From the date of sowing to the last date of harvesting, the duration of Okra farming 60 to 80 days where we require a 1-acre land for 3 months. On the rental basis, the cost of leasing 1-acre land is Rs.5,000 per acre.

Plowing cost in Okra 1 acre cultivates:

The cost of plowing and land levelling with ridges and furrows incurs Rs.2500 per acre.

Labor cost in 1-acre Okra Farming:

We need labor during the date of sowing, once in 15 days for weeding for 3 months. For irrigation at the rate of initially twice and week and later after for every 15 days interval, we need 2 labor for 12 times of two labors or irrigation. Harvesting starts after 30 days of sowing from 30 days of sowing to 90 days after sowing, we will go for harvesting for about 5 times. We require two labors for every harvesting where it incurs 10 labors cost.

Cost of men labor is Rs. 250 per day

Cost of women labor is Rs.200 per day

Labor cost for sowing: Rs.  450

Labor cost for weeding: Rs. 5400

Labor cost for harvesting: Rs. 3,000

Labor cost for spraying: Rs. 500.

Cost of pesticides:

For okra farming, we need 500 ml of insecticide for insect pest control and 500 ml of fungicide in order to control diseases. We require one labor for spraying. Spraying is done with a gap of 15 days intervals. Therefore we need Rs.500 for spraying for two times at 15 days interval. Sometimes, the cost of pesticide spraying increase if the infestation of disease or insect is epidemic. Therefore, take precautionary measures like seed treatment and weeding at proper intervals of time in Okra farming.

Cost of fertilizers:

Cost of fertilizers for 1-acre Okra farming is about Rs.1500.

Cost of harvesting:

As mentioned above for harvesting in Okra farming we require Rs. 3,000

Marketing cost of Okra to regional markets:

Mostly nowadays corporate traders are procuring the vegetables like Okra from the farm which incurs zero money for marketing. However, on an average for five harvestings, we need Rs. 1,000 for transportation of harvested Okra. The farmer also can do transport on his own two or four wheelers.

Total Cost of Okra Farming in 1 acre: Let us consider it as “ C ”

Cost of labor:                                                           Rs. 12,350

Cost of land:                                                            Rs. 5,000

Cost of cultural operations:                                        Rs. 2,000

Cost of pesticides:                                                    Rs. 500

Cost of harvesting:                                                   Rs. 3,000

Cost of Marketing:                                                    Rs. 1,000

The total cost incurred in 1 care Okra cultivation: Rs.23,350– Land cost Rs. 5,000 = RS.18, 350.

Therefore C = Rs. 18,350

Income return in One-acre Okra farming:

Read: Mango Farming Guide.

Nowadays, as the availability of vegetables is decreasing day by day and an increase in the demand for vegetables, the vegetables are fetching a very good price in the markets. Among the vegetables, Okra is among them which are fetching good prices. The market price of Okra range between Rs. 40 to Rs. 50. We have to consider as Rs. 40 per kg. For 1^st and 2^nd harvesting, we get 90 kg per acre per harvest Okra yield and the following harvesting, we will get up to 120 kg per acre for every harvest up to three harvestings. Therefore, after the total harvesting yield of one-acre Okra farming is 540 kg or 5.4 q/ acre.

Benfit of 1 acre Okra farming: Let us consider it as “ B “

Total benefit in 1 ac Okra cultivation :540 kg X Rs. 45 per kg = Rs. 24,300

Net profit in 1 acre okra fariing is B – C = Rs.24300 – 18350 = RS. 5950.

Therefore, on average, one farmer gets only RS. 5,950 for 1-acre Okra farming.

How to enhance or increase the profits in Okra Farming:

It is easy to increase the profits in vegetable farming like Okra if you for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which we have mentioned in the other article.

Conclusion of Growing Okra:

This all about Okra farming in 1 acre which may be profitable if you go for proper and IPM practices.

That’s all folks about okra farming cost and profits. Keep farming!.

Read: How to Grow Tomatoes from Seeds.