Economic Viability and Cost Efficiency of Cocodust-Based Nursery Systems in Vegetable Farming in Bangladesh
Md. Arifur Rahaman *
SERA Bangladesh, 23/A, Street 2, Siute 4/C, Old DOHS, Banani, Dhaka 1206, Bangladesh.
Md. Mizanur Rahman
SERA Bangladesh, 23/A, Street 2, Siute 4/C, Old DOHS, Banani, Dhaka 1206, Bangladesh.
S M Robiul Hasan *
SERA Bangladesh, 23/A, Street 2, Siute 4/C, Old DOHS, Banani, Dhaka 1206, Bangladesh.
Shanjana Sharif Sruti
SERA Bangladesh, 23/A, Street 2, Siute 4/C, Old DOHS, Banani, Dhaka 1206, Bangladesh.
Md. Mhedul Hasan
JAKAS Foundation, Sabujnagar, Joypurhat 5900, Bangladesh.
Md. Obaidul Islam
JAKAS Foundation, Sabujnagar, Joypurhat 5900, Bangladesh.
Md. Abul Bashar
JAKAS Foundation, Sabujnagar, Joypurhat 5900, Bangladesh.
Farhana Sanzid
JAKAS Foundation, Sabujnagar, Joypurhat 5900, Bangladesh.
Md. Golam Ehsanul Habib
PKSF, Bhaban-1, Plot: E-4/B, Agargaon Administrative Area, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh.
S.S.R.M. Mahe Alam Sorwar
PKSF, Bhaban-1, Plot: E-4/B, Agargaon Administrative Area, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh.
Abu Noman Faruq Ahmmed
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Seedling quality is a critical determinant of productivity, input-use efficiency, and profitability in vegetable farming. However, despite the growing adoption of cocodust-based nurseries in Bangladesh, their farm-level economic performance remains poorly quantified. This study assessed the economic viability of cocodust nursery technology using a farm-level comparative mixed-methods design. Data were collected from 80 vegetable farmers selected through stratified random sampling and grouped into cocodust user’s vs traditional nursery users. A detailed cost–benefit analysis was conducted and differences between nursery systems were analysed using independent two-sample Welch’s t-tests. The results show that cocodust-based nurseries incurred higher seedling costs, increasing by approximately 50–90% for most crops. However, these higher initial costs were more than offset by significant reductions in subsequent input use. Fertilizer costs declined by 18–38%, pesticide costs by up to 33%, labor costs by 16–40%, intercultural operation costs by 30–65%, irrigation costs by up to 22%, and pole and fence costs by 12–42% under cocodust-based systems. Consequently, total production costs decreased by 14–24% across crops, leading to substantial gains in net profitability. Net profit increased significantly for all vegetables, with improvements ranging from approximately 29–60% compared with traditional nursery practices. Overall, the findings indicate that cocodust nursery technology enhances input-use efficiency and reduces total production costs. This technology also significantly improve farm profitability, suggesting a financially viable and scalable option for promoting sustainable vegetable production and income growth among smallholder farmers in Bangladesh.
Keywords: Cocodust nursery, vegetable farming, input-use efficiency, cost–benefit analysis, Bangladesh