ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF DAPHAR IRRIGATED PLANTATION IN PUNJAB

This study was conducted in the Daphar Irrigated Plantation of Punjab province during the year 2006, to investigate the profitability of this plantation. A questionnaire was prepared to collect the information from the officials of the Forest Department through interview. For economic analysis the techniques used were: Net Present Worth, Benefit-Cost Ratio, and Internal Rate of Return. Overall result showed that Daphar Irrigated Plantation was profitable (Benefit-Cost Ratio = 1.29). Reasons for low net financial benefits were attributed to high tree mortality, social/illicit tree felling and high initial costs. Adopting proper and improved techniques and managerial approaches profitability can be increased to a large extent.