Profitability of Vegetable Cultivation under Groundwater Condition in Karnataka, India

The study assessed the profitability and water use efficiency of vegetable crops, specifically cabbage and cauliflower, in comparison to cereal crops like ragi and maize in Karnataka during 2020-2021. Data were collected from 120 farmers using a multistage purposive sampling design. The results indicated that vegetable crops had significantly higher gross and net returns than cereal crops. Additionally, the water use efficiency of cabbage and cauliflower was superior, meaning they utilized water more effectively to generate economic returns. The benefit-cost ratio also favoured the vegetable crops, demonstrating that they were more profitable compared to ragi and maize. Overall, the findings highlighted that under groundwater conditions, vegetable crops performed better in terms of profitability and water efficiency, suggesting that promoting vegetable cultivation could enhance farm incomes and optimize water use in Karnataka.