Year: 2025 | Month: June | Volume 70 | Issue 2
Exploring the Opportunities of Gherkin Farming and its Export Potential in India
B. Keerthika
M. Thilagavathi
C. Indu Rani
M. Prahadeeshwaran
R. Vasanthi
DOI:10.46852/0424-2513.2.2025.7
Abstract:
The growth of horticultural crops surpassed agricultural growth in India during recent years. Gherkin is an important export market crops which is gaining attention during recent decades and has the potential for good returns. This study involves both primary and secondary data to explore the export potential of India and value- chain map of the gherkin industries in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. The secondary data regarding export of two different gherkin products viz., HS-200110 (Cucumbers & Gherkins, Prepared/
Preserved by Vinegar/Acetic Acid) and HS-071140 (Cucumbers & Gherkins, Provisionally Preserved) was collected for 30 years (1994-2023) and the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) was analysed. The result revealed that the export of HS-071140 was positive in both periods with the overall CAGR of 15.48 percent. Likewise, the HS-200110 was positive in period I but negative in period II with the overall CAGR of 11.32 percent. The primary survey involves purposive selection of two blocks from Dindigul
viz., Vedasanthur and Dindigul blocks with 60 farmers in each block thus making total sample size of 120 farmers and four gherkin pickling cum export companies were also interviewed. The cost under conventional, drip and drip + mulch was ` 72962.30, ` 74914.60 and ` 77544.60 respectively whereas the net income was higher in drip + mulch with ` 152455 compared to conventional (` 42037.70) and drip alone (` 86085.40). The value chain analysis showed that two grades fetch higher prices viz., 160+ and
100+ where the net returns was higher in the export of former with ` 1,73,950/tonnes compared to the latter with ` 1,61,950. Gherkin is a profitable crop for farmers and the major constraint faced by them was fixed amount for each grade, hence laws should be strengthened so that the processors should not exploit the farmers.
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