In recent times, with the globalization of markets, shrinking of land and climate change, food basket diversification, increase in demand for nutrient-rich food, the protected cultivation of high-value crops (HVCs) have assumed a pivotal role in augmenting higher crop productivity and profitability and enhancing nutritional security of the growing population. In this context, a study was undertaken to analyze the impact of protected cultivation in horticultural crops in the districts of Almora and Dehradun in the Uttarakhand state. It was mainly based on primary data obtained through a primary survey and focus group discussion with the 96 farmers practicing protected cultivation by using a well-structured and pre-tested questionnaire. In economic analysis, the project analysis tools were used to assess the feasibility of the protected cultivation. The study clearly demonstrated that the cultivation of vegetables and flowers under protected cultivation is a highly profitable enterprise. However, the findings of the study indicated that the subsidy scheme needs to be continued to encourage maximum farmers to adopt protected cultivation and farmers need to be encouraged to form farmers producers organizations (FPOs), which would help them in seeking better quality of inputs and enhancing negotiating power in the market to realize maximum returns for their farm produce.

Protected cultivation is an innovative way of raising seasonal and off-seasonal crops under a controlled environment. Vegetables and flower crops have tremendous potential to augment productivity, generate employment, utilize land efficiently and enhance export. This study was undertaken to assess the economic feasibility of protected cultivation in the high export potential zones of the Pune and Nasik districts of Maharashtra, India, by employing project analytical tools and the regression model. The results revealed that the cultivation of flowers and vegetables under protected cultivation was highly lucrative with high investment. The protected cultivation of rose and capsicum had higher cultivation cost (300%), gross return (250%) and net return (190%) as compared to open cultivation. Moreover, most of the crops grown in polyhouses are highly profitable at different discount rates (7%, 10% and 12%), whereas a few crops were rewarding under shade net condition with subsidies. Factors such as literacy (p < 0.05), income (p < 0.05), access to subsidy (p < 0.05) and the risk orientation index (p < 0.01) were found statistically significant in technology adoption. In the context of a changing climate and shrinking land resources, water scarcity, incidence of pests and diseases, an ever-increasing population, low productivity under open conditions and changes in consumer’s preference are the drivers for switching over to protected cultivation. In the recent past, protected cultivation has been gaining importance in different parts of the country, including Maharashtra. The policy implications are creating modern infrastructure, enhanced application of ICTs, maximum crop production with minimum utilization of land and institutional support to promote technology on a commercial scale.