Crops and Costs: Comparing Economic Outcomes of Protectedand ‎Open Cucumber Cultivation in Haryana, India

  • Authors

    https://doi.org/10.14419/h7xew273

    Received date: September 2, 2025

    Accepted date: September 10, 2025

    Published date: February 22, 2026

  • Protected Cultivation; Open Field Cultivation; Cucumber Economics; Cost-Benefit Analysis; ‎Sustainable Agriculture; Agriculture Input Efficiency; Farm Profitability in Haryana; Agro-Policy ‎Planning; Climate Resilient Agriculture‎.

  • Abstract

    The agricultural sector in Haryana is dominated by smallholder farmers practicing subsistence-‎level farming, which often yields low economic returns. The legacy of mono-cropping, ‎particularly since the Green Revolution, has intensified environmental degradation through ‎excessive use of chemical inputs and water resources. In this context, protected cultivation ‎emerges as a potential alternative to conventional open-field methods, offering off-season ‎production, higher yields, and resilience against climate variability. Given Haryana’s proximity ‎to the National Capital Region (NCR), the region has strong market access and high demand for ‎fresh vegetables such as cucumbers. This study is inspired by on-ground interactions with ‎farmers in Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts.‎

    This study conducts a comparative economic analysis of cucumber cultivation under open-field ‎and protected cultivation systems. Using empirical data from Haryana, we apply cost-benefit ‎analysis, margin of safety, and regression models to evaluate economic efficiency and identify ‎key cost-influencing inputs. The results indicate that protected cultivation yields significantly ‎higher economic returns compared to traditional methods. However, the substantial initial ‎investment remains a critical barrier for small-scale farmers, even when government subsidies ‎are available.‎

    The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to promote sustainable ‎agriculture that balances environmental conservation with improved farm profitability. Strategic ‎support mechanisms are recommended to enhance the adoption of protected cultivation among ‎resource-constrained farmers, ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability in the region‎.

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  • How to Cite

    Kumar, S. ., Godara, R. S. ., Parihar, M., & Kumar, A. . (2026). Crops and Costs: Comparing Economic Outcomes of Protectedand ‎Open Cucumber Cultivation in Haryana, India. International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, 13(2), 297-303. https://doi.org/10.14419/h7xew273