Economics of pineapple cultivation in Ernakulam District of Kerala

The study was conducted in Ernakulam district which has the highest area and production of pineapple in Kerala. The study was based on primary collected from 250 pineapple cultivators from different villages in Ernakulam district from January 2024- March 2025. Costs involved in pineapple cultivation and the returns from it were analyzed to assess the profitability of pineapple cultivation in the study area. The study has found that the cost C3 of pineapple for the first year period is Rs. 526152/Ha, second and third year Rs. 310310/ha. It was noticed that the cost of production exhibits a negative growth, moving towards the final year. Total yield (kg/ha) was 17584 of A grade, 3958 of B grade and 2223 of C grade. Gross returns for an average 23765 Kg produce per hectare was estimated to be ₹770931. The additional average income from suckers from the farms fetched a yield of ₹193000. Combining both of these incomes, the total gross income was ₹963131.The net profit per hectare was Rs. 436979. The profitability of pineapple estimated from this study was higher in comparison with similar peer studies. The Cost- Benefit ratio was computed for Costs A was 2.65, B1 was 1.89, B2 was 1.84 and C2 was 1.83. The study has found that 70% of pineapple cultivation take place in leased lands. The major problems faced by the farmers were price fluctuations in the pineapple market, Labour shortage, Increasing cost of production, Lack of value addition, Wild Animal Attacks, Lack of Institutional support, Shortage in Quality land /sapling and Climate problems. Absence of women cultivators in pineapple cultivation was also found. Lease land farming was observed to be the normal case with 80% supporting this choice.