Economics of ornamental plant nurseries in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh

In the current scenario, residents of hilly regions, particularly in Himachal Pradesh, are increasingly turning toward indoor cultivation of ornamental and potted plants. The present study focuses on the economic assessment of ornamental plant nurseries in Kangra District, H.P. A representative sample of 40 nurseries was selected using simple random sampling. The main ornamental plants cultivated in these nurseries included annuals, perennials, houseplants, and bulb plants. On average, each sample nursery had around 34,510 potted plants, with annuals forming the largest share (69.13%), followed by houseplants (18.65%) and perennials (10.05%). The total cost of cultivating ornamental plants, including both fixed and variable expenses, was estimated at ₹9,58,339 per nursery. Human labor and planting materials or seeds constituted the major cost components. The Net Present Value (NPV) of ornamental plants, calculated at a 10% discount rate, was ₹ 30.15 lakh. The Benefit-Cost (B:C) ratio for all potted plants was 1.49, while the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) was an impressive 255%. However, the study identified key challenges such as low awareness levels, shortage of skilled labor, and insufficient technical knowledge and training among nursery owners. To address these issues, it is recommended that efforts be directed toward enhancing awareness through targeted extension education programs and practical demonstration trials.