Wetland Economics. 3. Cost-Benefit Analysis of Water Chestnut Cultivation with Two Case Studies

Cost benefit analysis of water chestnut cultivation in West Bengal is communicated herein with two case studies. Field observations made in Railway jheels of southern West Bengal including Rajarhat areas in Kolkata have revealed that water chestnut, locally called paniphal, is grown of three husk colour, viz., green, red and purple with predominance of green variety in this part of the country. Production process begins actively in June after the lease agreement is made either verbally by the private parties or through tender system by the railway authorities and continues up to the first week of December when harvesting is over. Observations on cultivation, harvesting and marketing as well as case studies suggest it a labour intensive enterprise which requires manure (DAP) for growth of the plant and medicine (pesticide) for pest infestation. Cost benefit analysis for the year 2014, suggests that paniphal farmers earned a meagre amount of ` 1,000- ` 3,000/- (av. ` 2,000/-) per bigha excluding remuneration of the farmer and his household labour during the entire period of cultivation of about six months. Because of its commercial importance, community dependency and livelihood dependency of labourers as well as environmental benefits like nutrient removal and water purification, an integration of paniphal cultivation with pisciculture and integrated wetland management at the Block Level is suggested.