Greenhouse- grown Cucumber as an Alternative to Field Production and its Economic Feasibility in Aswan Governorate, Egypt

A greenhouse experiment was carried out in 2014/2015 in the Research Station at Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Aswan University to investigate pilot/experimental greenhouse model facilities to improve efficiency of integration along the value chain of cucumber crop and provide a guide for greenhouse cucumber growers in Upper Egypt. The area of the greenhouse was 4200 m² representing the most common economic module in terms of unit size for the greenhouse vegetable industry. The cucumber cultivar ‘Barracuda F1’ was cultivated in the greenhouse and ‘Elmayadeen’ in the open field. The results revealed that the total harvest yield of the cucumber cultivar ‘Barracuda F1’ under greenhouse was 5 times the open-field yield of the cultivar ‘Elmayadeen’ in the area; as well as, the water used for irrigation was 70 % less than in open-field. The mean variable costs, average fixed costs and total costs for the greenhouse production system were higher than the open field production system. The total gross revenue and margin were 114000 L.E and 84383 L.E for the greenhouse cucumber, while the gross revenue and margin for the open-field cucumber were 19400 L.E and 15047 L.E. The mean net profit was 61830 L.E for greenhouse and 13666L.E foropen-field cucumber. The results revealed that the net profit for greenhouse cucumber growers was thirteen times higher that of their open-field counterparts. The average yield off for the greenhouse cucumber was higher by 24.74 ton (45.6-20.86=24.74) ton, while in open field the average yield off was higher by 6.84 ton (9.7-2.86=6.84). The financial indicators indicated higher convenience for greenhouse cucumber production system, highlighting a NPV equal to 223353 L.E, an IRR to 48.11%, which can be compared to the interest rate which was about 11% to prove the profitability of greenhouse cucumber project. The cucumber greenhouse system has been shown to have a higher profitability than the open-field system as shown by the private and social profits and is more efficient which compensates its extra costs.