Energy requirement and cost economics for production of Pineapple in Manipur

Jekendra Yumnam, RK Tiwari, SK Chauhan *

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is one of the commercially important fruit crops of India. Total annual world production is 14.6 million tonnes of pineapple fruits. India is the fifth largest producer of pineapple. Other leading producers are Thailand, Philippines, Brazil, China, Nigeria, Mexico, Indonesia, Colombia and USA. Endowed with diverse climate, the NE region offers ideal – conditions for cultivation of a wide variety of tropical and temperate fruits in its hills and valleys.

The dominant horticultural crops of the region include pineapple, citrus, banana and areca nut. The North eastern region has a total area of 35.7 thousand ha under pineapple. Pineapple fruits production is 1.38 million tonnes from 0.09 million hectares area in the country. Pineapple is the largest fruit that is produced in Manipur planted in total 12100 ha having production of 103500 tonnes annually. Average weight of a single pineapple is 1.5 kg, whereas, the weight of pineapple range from 1 to 3 kg in Manipur.

Locally known as 'lengthei', pineapple is cultivated in all the 9 districts of Manipur. Churachandpur District, with over 284 ha of land in cultivation is recorded to have the most extensive cultivation in Manipur. The markets of Imphal, Churachandpur, Thoubal, Moirang are hubs for hard-to-resist yellowish fruits during the month of July and August every year.

The cost of production and the share of energy costs vary widely by variety and regions. The productivity of pineapple crop depends upon the energy inputs consumed during various farm operations.

The sources of energy that go into the production include material inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, manures, insecticides and mechanical energy along with human and bullock labour hours used in the crop production process. Considerable variations in the form and extent of energy use and its efficiency exist in the production pineapple crop in different districts of Manipur.

Standard Energy coefficients are considered in working out energy consumption for pineapple production in Manipur condition. For human and animal pair, energy coefficients are 1.96 and 62.7 MJ/h respectively. Energy coefficients for FYM, N, P2 O5 and k2O are taken as 0.3, 66.14, 12.44 and 11.15 MJ/kg respectively.

The values of energy coefficients of for traditional plough, hand khurpa, sickle and narrow spade are taken 1.85 and 0.05 MJ/h during energy consumption assessment in pineapple cultivation.

Energy coefficients for pineapple sucker is considered as 1.5 MJ/kg and for traditional plough, harvesting knife and khurpa energy coefficient of 62.7MJ/kg are included as per international standard of energy requirement.

Output energy for pineapple included is 2.72 MJ/kg. The total input energy required for pineapple cultivation is 53673.62 MJ/ha which also include indirect energy forming part of input energy of 41166.02 MJ/ha and equipment energy of 355.60 MJ/ha in different unit operations.

The output energy value is 612000 MJ/ha and ratio of output energy and input energy comes out to be 11.40. Energy productivity and specific energy values are 4.192 kg/MJ and 0.238 MJ/kg, respectively. The net energy gain during pineapple production is 558326.38 MJ/ha.

Formulae used in working out energy consumptions are as follows :
Output-Input Ratio = Output Energy (MJ/ha) / Input Energy (MJ/ha)
Energy Productivity (kg/MJ) = Pineapple Yield(kg/ha) including Ratoon / Energy Input (MJ/ha)

Net Energy Gain (MJ/ha) = Energy Output (MJ/ha) – Energy Input (MJ/ha)
Specific Energy (MJ/kg) = Input Energy (MJ/ha) / Pineapple Production (kg/ha)
Yield of main crop of pineapple after 17 months : 60 t/ha
Value return for the main crop : Rs 6 lakh/ha
Net return from the main crop after 17 months : Rs 4.175 lakh/ha

Weeding and harvesting cost for first ratoon crop of pineapple : Rs 35000/ha
Total weeding and harvesting cost for three ratoon crops of after main crop : Rs 1.05 lakh/ha
Cost of production of pineapple crops as three ratoon crop: Rs 1.05 lakh/ha
Yield of single ratoon crop : 55 t/ha

Net return from three ratoon crops after main crop for 165 t/ha production : Rs 16.5 – 1.05 lakh/ha
Net return from three ratoon crops after main crop : Rs 15.45 lakh/ha
Net benefit considering main crop and three ratoons crops of pineapple (225 t/ha) : Rs 19.625 lakh/ha

Benefit-Cost ratio in main pineapple crop of 17 months : 2.28 : 1
Benefit-Cost ratio in three successive ratoons crops : 14.7 : 1

The transport cost for pineapple production @ 20% of total cost of production resulting net profit of 15.7 lakh/ha. When average post harvest losses during transport and storage houses are taken @ of 20% of total production cost which will reduce profit margin to the tune of 11.775 lakh/ha. are are considered for pineapple production actual facts which are main hindrance in successful production of pineapple crop on the Manipur.

The farmers are bound to sell in 10-15% of sale price prevailing in big cities and metros at other parts of the country. The production cost has scope for reduction (approximate 30-35%) through savings of inputs, time of unit operations and labour by mechanizing different unit operations benefiting farmers if rotavator, post hole diggers, power weeder, power sprayers, urea super granule applicator, sucker transplanter and mechanized harvesting units are promoted in the region.