ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF CUCUMBERS IN NAWALPARASI EAST, NEPAL.

Nawalparasi East district is one of the high cucumber growing areas in Nepal and is considered a pocket area for cucumbers. The study was conducted in two rural municipalities (Hupsekot and Madhyabindu) and two municipalities (Gaidakot and Kawasoti) in the district from February to July 2023 AD. The research aimed to study the production and marketing of cucumbers in the district by assessing the production cost, examining market price behavior and channels, and identifying cucumber cultivation's production and market-related problems. A questionnaire for producers and a different questionnaire for traders was designed. A sample of 120 farmers was selected from the list of cucumber farmers and 25 traders were selected from major markets. Socio-demographic and farm characteristics were identified through statistical means. Likewise, financial analysis like cost breakdown, gross revenue, BC ratio, and market analysis like price behavior were examined. Also, major problems faced by cucumber-growing farmers were ranked. SWOT analysis was also carried out through FDG (Focus Group Discussion) and KIIs (Key Informant Interviews). The cost of production was broken down into various parameters in which the land lease cost shared the highest percentage of cost i.e., 23.99% of the cost of cucumber production. The total cost of producing cucumber was observed to be NRs. 298087.62 per hectare. A good return with a BC ratio of 3.03 was also found. The study also revealed insect pests and diseases to be important production problems. Likewise, problems like price fluctuation, unawareness of farmers towards price, and middleman intervention were important marketing issues. 37.18% of producer's share and NRs. 59.43 of price spread showed a lag in the marketing of cucumbers that needs to be fixed to reach maximum profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]