An analysis of economic performance of pomegranate growers under National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in Chikkaballapura and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka

The present study was conducted to analyze the economic performance of pomegranate growers under National Horticulture Mission (NHM). About 88.33 percent overall beneficiaries fall under medium level of economic performance and overall 36.67 percent of non-beneficiaries belongs to medium level of economic performance. With respect to average cost and return analysis of beneficiary NHM pomegranate growers, the overall average net returns were Rs.405295.10 per acre with returns/rupee of expenditure of 3.55 respectively. The non-beneficiary of NHM pomegranate growers, the overall average net returns were Rs.169119.85 per acre with returns/rupee of expenditure of 2.73 respectively. The results indicated that the NHM scheme has had a positive economic impact, with most beneficiaries experiencing moderate income improvement. It showed that, in Chikkaballapura has a slightly higher proportion of low performers compared to Chitradurga district, though the differences in medium and high performance were relatively small. The findings highlighted the importance of improving economic performance and outreach efforts for to increase their participation and get benefit from NHM and improve their economic performance for better scheme implementation and spread of positive impact of the NHM.