Cost Benefit Analysis For Passion Fruit Farming

Cost Benefit Analysis For Passion Fruit Farming. (1^st Year Only)
As the sun bathes the passion fruit farm, the farmer embarks on a journey outlined by a meticulous cost-benefit analysis for the first year. From land preparation to labor-intensive tasks like weeding and spraying, every step is measured for success. Challenges lurk in the form of diseases, but with the right treatments, the orchard stands strong. Fertilizer application is a delicate balance, guided by wisdom to avoid resistance buildup and ensure maximum efficiency. As the farmer looks over their burgeoning orchard, they’re filled with pride—a testament to their dedication and unwavering passion for cultivation.

S/No	Item Description	Quantity	Unity Cost/Ugx	Total
	Variable Costs
1	Land Hire/Acre/per year	1	500,000	500000
2	Land clearing	1	150,000	150,000
3	Ploughing/Acre/Tractor	1	250,000	250,000
4	Seedlings	1000	1,000	1,000,000
5	Poles/200*2 = 400	200	10000	2000000
6	Nets	15	40,000	600,000
7	Galvanized wires/rolls	3	140,000	420,000
8	Staking strings	1	100,000	100000
9	Setting up the stand/Labor	1	600,000	600,000
10	Nails	6	8000	48000
	Other inputs
11	Foliar Fertilizer – Combination	1	1,000,000	1,000,000
12	Basal Fertilizer/Phased/50kg bags	10	175,000	1,750,000
13	Insecticide/litters	6	40,000	240,000
14	Fungicides/ Mancozeb Powder/kg	100	14,000	1,400,000
15	Labor; Transplanting, Weeding and spraying and staking/ Per month	12	350,000	4,200,000
16	Harvesting,	1	500,000	500,000
17	Supervision and Administration costs	2	500,000	1,000,000
18	Miscellaneous	1	500,000	500,000
	Total Establishment Cost			15,258,000
	Returns
19	Bags/100Kg	65	600,000	39,000,000
	Net Profit before Taxes			23,742,000

NOTE1

1. VARIETY – UPF 12,
2. Land Area – Acre. For hectares consider (1 Hectare = 2.4Acres)
3. Spacing considered – 6ft × 6ft, Max plant population – 1200 plants
4. Allow a maximum of 3-4 vine per plant
5. Every vine has a potential of giving you over 200 fruits
6. Peak Harvest periods – Twice a year, Each lasting 3months, A minimum of 30-40 bags per harvesting period.
7. The prices per bag fluctuating between Ugx. 600,000 and 900,000
8. While your actual investment in an acre by the end of the first year is considerably high, one needs less than Ugx 6M until the first harvest peak period.

IMPORTANT DISEASES

Disease	Signs	Causes	Treatment
Root rots, stem/Colar rot.	Localized Lesions between the stem and the root later translating into root rot and eventually the plant wilts and dries	Fungal Disease   Spreads via -Infected plant tissues especially un treated compost manures   -Pathogen may exist in the soil and effects accelerated by dampness at the stem	Azoxystrobin Or Carbendazim Fungicides.   Application Drenching the affected soils Regular foliar applications
Blights	Yellowing of leaves	Fungal Disease   Spreads Wind or water Pruning tools	Mancozeb powder – Prevents further spread   Use metalaxyl to treat
Hardwood	Leaf mosaics Stuntedness Wrinkled and hard fruits	Viral Disease   Spreads via Sucking and pollinating insects Including bees, wasps, aphids	Uproot and carefully transfer infected plants out of the garden.   Appy systemic insecticides like Imidacroprid, neem based insecticide or Acetamiprid

Spots

Spots on leaves, fruits, and stem

Fungal/Bacterial   Spreads via Air or water or pruning tools

Remove infected plant parts and carefully transfer them out of the garden   Apply copper based fungicide

FERTILIZER APPLICATION REGIME

AT PLANTING	3 MONTHS	EVERY AFTER PEAK HARVERST
DAP/YALA POWER   For Proper root development   Passion Fruits are surface feeders and therefore fertilizers are applied by  ring placement around the plant after transplanting at a rate of 10 to 20g per plant.   AVOID MANURES TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF ROOT ROTS   Supplementing the plant with a potassium rich foliar fertilizer shall greatly boost the immunity of the plant against infections and disease	GRAINPULSE TOMATO FERTILIZER/(NPK 17:17:17+Calcigro) /YALA MILA WINNER   For flowering and fruiting stages.   Rate: 100g to 150g per plant Soils should be moist for efficient use by plants   Supplementing the plant with Boron, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron plus foliar NPK shall greatly boost the yield   NOTE: FERTILIZERS ARE MOST EFFICIENT WHEN APPLIED IN ALONE/NOT MIXED WITH INSECTICIDE OR FUNGICIDES.   Apply foliar fertilizer in cool hours of the day.	GRAINPULSE TOMATO FERTILIZER/(NPK 17:17:17+Calcigro) /YALA MILA WINNER   Every after-peak harvest/ every after 3-4 months   Rate: 100g to 150g per plant Soils should be moist for efficient use by plants and applied by ring placement   Supplementing the plant with Boron, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron plus foliar NPK shall greatly boost the yield   CALCIUM IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PLANT AND SHOULD BE APPLIED IN FORM OF CALCIGRO OR CAN EVERY AFTER-PEAK HARVEST   A well-maintained orchard of passion fruits should last upto 3-5 years but may also last less than a year if not well maintained

CHECK OUT FOR RELATED VIDEOS ON FERTIZER REGIMES, PESTS AND DISEASES ON YOUTUBE @ AGRO AND MORE LTD CHANNEL

NOTE2

1. Avoid using the same insecticide or fungicide over and over again even if its very effective because this shall cause a buildup of resistance among the insect pest or pathogen respectively over time and the thus the insecticide becomes less effective.
2. Avoid under dosing or over dosing during mixing and application of fungicide. This shall lead to resistance of pathogen to the active ingredient overtime. Observe recommended rates as prescribed by the manufacturer and observe post-harvest intervals.
3. Avoid using strong insecticides or fungicide in the early months of your orchard because you shall need them along the way as the orchard grows after the insects or pathogens have built resistance and multiplied.
4. Remember to protect yourself and those you are working with on the farm by wearing protective gear on the whole body. Similarly, ensure that you dispose off used bottles and containers properly to avoid contamination of water bodies and the environment.
5. Incase of further consultation on this subject, check out our online platforms on facebook , youtube and Linkedin or reach our senior agronomist on whatsapp +256 704133983.