Enhancing Productivity and Profitability of Mesta (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) through Integrated Crop Management
K. Lakshmana
District Agricultural Advisory & Transfer of Technology Centre (DAATTC), Vizianagaram, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh, India.
K. Tejeswara Rao *
District Agricultural Advisory & Transfer of Technology Centre (DAATTC), Vizianagaram, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh, India.
M. Swathi
District Agricultural Advisory & Transfer of Technology Centre (DAATTC), Vizianagaram, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh, India.
M. M. V. Srinivasa Rao
District Agricultural Advisory & Transfer of Technology Centre (DAATTC), Vizianagaram, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Mesta (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is a bast-fibre crop cultivated under rainfed conditions in parts of eastern and southern India. A two-season series of frontline demonstrations in the Badangi area of Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, compared the reported farmers’ practice (T1) with an integrated crop management (ICM) package (T2) during kharif 2024 and 2025. Three demonstration locations were identified for each season. The package combined recommended fertiliser application, metalaxyl seed dressing and mancozeb foliar protection, whereas the comparison represented prevailing local management. At the reported seasonal-summary level, fibre yields were 1,980 and 2,260 kg/ha under T1 and T2 in 2024, and 2,050 and 2,335 kg/ha in 2025. The unweighted two-year means were 2,015.0 and 2,297.5 kg/ha, corresponding to a descriptive yield difference of 282.5 kg/ha (14.02%). At a standardised fibre price of ₹45/kg, mean gross returns were ₹90,675 and ₹103,387.50/ha. Using the reported cultivation costs, net returns were ₹52,225 and ₹62,937.50/ha, while gross-return-to-cost ratios were 2.36 and 2.56, respectively. These results suggest a potentially useful local association between the ICM package and higher fibre output and modelled net returns. The lack of site-level data, independent treatment allocation details and uncertainty estimates prevents statistical or component-specific causal inference.
Keywords: Mesta, Hibiscus sabdariffa, fibre yield, frontline demonstration, integrated crop management, farm economics