A study on pineapple intercropping in rubber holdings was conducted during July-August
1989 in Kottayam district of Kerala. Fifty one rubber smallholders, having pineapple inter cropping, were interviewed and an analysis was done using ABC cost concept. Sensitivity analysis was done at 10 per cent variation of output prices and input prices. The discounted net income for the first three years was worked out at Rs. 22443.48 per hectare. The average pineapple plant population in the first year of planting was 4565 per hectare and the total yield for the first three years amounted to 31 tonnes. The cost of production worked out to Rs. 0.57 per kilogramme of pineapple on cost C basis. The BCR of the discounted cash flow was 2.27. Even though the BCR indicates the economic feasibility of investment, this crop lacks definite policy content. More and more pineapple processing industries need to be set up in Kerala so as to have much greater value addition within the state itself, resulting in price stability and a fair share of consumer's rupee to the growers.
Pineapple intercropping, ABC cost concept, Gross income, Farm business income, Family labour income, Net income, Land rent, Capital productivity, Sensitivity analysis
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