The economic feasibility of cultivating local cucumbers (Cucumis milo var.flexuosus )in plastic house

Abstract

Cucumber (Cucumis sativa L.), is widely cultivated under protected condition. The summer local cucumber variety (Cucumis milo var.flexuosus ) did not previously subjected to protected cultivation. This variety was cultivated in a plastic house, for the first time in Iraq, with an area of 504 square meters, to show the possibility of success of this cultivation, and to calculate its economic feasibility. The study was conducted in one of the plastic house belonging to the College of Agriculture, Al-Qasim Green University, during the fall season 2020. The results of the study showed the success of cultivating this variety in the plastic house in winter. Cost and returns analysis indicates that the cost and profit of this cultivation turned out to be (1746, 3039 ) thousand dinar respectively. The returns, profit, benefit-cost ratio, rate of return ratio, and operating ratio indicated that local cucumber cultivation in plastic house was profitable. The study recommends the expansion of cultivation of this summer variety in the plastic house in winter.