Productivity and Profitability of Latiraj Kachu (Colocasia esculenta) to Promote Cultivation Practices in Dug Well Schemes at Joypurhat

A study was conducted to know the farmers' production techniques and to assess the productivity and profitability of latiraj kachu (a variety of Panikachu) at Joypurhat district. The study was also conducted to promote its cultivation practices in dug well schemes in the medium highland to low land situations. Total 10 solar powered modified dug well schemes at two upazilas of Joypurhat district with 51 farmers related to the cultivation of latiraj kachu were selected for the study. The average cost of cultivation of latiraj kachu was Tk. 229895 per hectare, in which TK. 118745 and TK. 111150 per hectare were as variable cost and fixed cost respectively. The major shares of cost were 17.73% human labor, 22.56% seeds, 3.22% irrigation, 7.36% manure and fertilizers, 0.78% pesticides, and 48.35% land use and other costs. The average yield of stolon, and rhizome and stem in total were 20 and 88.92 metric tons per hectare respectively. The highest benefit cost ratio was 3.66 on an average and the average net return was Tk. 612505 per hectare of land. In a short, it can be said that the cultivation of latiraj kachu was more profitable than the other vegetables in the study area. It is now a very popular vegetable all over the country