Pointed Gourd Farming Profit Per Acre (Parwal)

Pointed Gourd Farming

Pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica), commonly known as Parwal, is commercially cultivated through vegetative propagation using vine cuttings or tubers, as seed-based propagation is rare due to its dioecious nature and genetic variability. Pointed Gourd Farming Profit per acre demonstrates highly favorable economics, with a total investment cost of NRs. 41,000 per acre covering land preparation, planting, trellising, inputs, and labor.

Against this expenditure, the venture generates robust revenue of NRs. 160,000 per acre from an estimated yield of 8,000 kg sold at NRs. 20/kg. This results in a substantial net profit of NRs. 119,000 per acre (Total Income – Total Cost), translating to an exceptional Return on Investment (ROI) of approximately 290.24% – calculated as (Net Profit / Total Cost) × 100. These figures highlight the compelling profitability potential of pointed gourd cultivation at the per-acre scale.

Land Preparation

Land preparation for pointed gourd cultivation involves 2–3 deep ploughings to a depth of 25–30 cm, followed by thorough harrowing to break soil clods and achieve a fine tilth. Proper leveling is essential to ensure uniform irrigation across the field. During the final ploughing, well-decomposed farmyard manure or compost at the rate of 20–25 tonnes per acre should be incorporated into the soil to enrich fertility. Depending on the planting method, either raised beds or individual pits should be prepared to facilitate healthy root development and vine growth.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy loam to loamy soils that are rich in organic matter and have a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0—slightly acidic to neutral—are good for pointed gourd growth. Heavy clay soils (caused by waterlogging problems), highly sandy soils (which do not retain water and nutrients), and saline/alkaline soils are deemed unsuited for successful production.

Climatic Requirements

Seed Rate per Acre

In commercial pointed gourd cultivation, seeds are not used due to the crop’s dioecious nature; instead, vegetative propagation is practiced. Approximately 2,000–2,500 vine cuttings, each 25–30 cm long with 4–5 nodes, are required per acre. Alternatively, when using rooted cuttings or tubers, about 1,000–1,100 plants are planted per acre, considering the wider spacing of pits used in this method.

When preparing pointed gourd plants for propagation, it is essential to ensure that cuttings are taken only from identified female plants. To do this effectively, plant selection should be carried out by observing the standing crop in the field and confirming the sex of the plant before using it for propagation

Planting

a) Planting Season

The ideal period for transplanting pointed gourd seedlings is between July and September. As the plants grow and spread like vines, they require structural support. Typically, a T-shaped framework is constructed using bamboo sticks to provide this support, allowing the vines to climb and spread across the structure.

b) Spacing

2 m x 2 m (Row to Row x Plant to Plant).

c) Planting Method

For planting pointed gourd, insert 2–3 healthy vine cuttings, each 25–30 cm long with lower leaves removed and treated with fungicide, into the prepared pit during the monsoon season, placing them at a slight angle. Alternatively, one well-sprouted tuber or an established rooted cutting can be planted per pit. It is important to water the plants immediately after planting to ensure proper establishment.

d) Number of Plants per Acre

Pointed gourd cultivation can handle about 1,011 planting pits per acre, with a spacing of 2 meters by 2 meters. Each pit is originally planted with 2-3 vine cuttings, which are then trimmed down to keep 1-2 robust and healthy vines for maximum growth and yield.

Intercropping

Intercropping is highly recommended during the first year of pointed gourd cultivation before the bower canopy fully develops, using short-duration vegetables like radish, spinach, coriander, beans, cucumber, pulses such as mung bean and cowpea, or flowers like marigold, which also help repel pests. Tall or dense crops should be avoided to prevent competition for light and nutrients, and this practice helps maximize land use and income during the crop’s establishment phase.

Irrigation

Here’s the irrigation information for pointed gourd presented in a clear tabular format:

Fertilizer and Manure

Here’s the fertilizer and manure information for pointed gourd presented in a clear tabular format:

Weed Control

Weed control is essential during the initial growth phase until the bower fully covers the ground. Effective methods include regular manual weeding or hoeing around the planting pits and applying a thick layer of organic mulch such as paddy straw or dried leaves, which helps suppress weed growth, conserve soil moisture, and enhance soil quality.

Flowering and Fruit Management

“Effective flowering and fruit management requires specific practices, beginning with the recognition that the plant is dioecious, necessitating separate male and female plants typically maintained in a ratio of 1:9 (1male plant for 9 female plants) to ensure adequate pollination.

Pollination occurs mainly via insects such as bees and ants, though hand pollination can be performed to guarantee a reliable fruit set. To promote uniform size and quality in the developing fruits, fruit thinning should be carried out early by removing misshapen, diseased, or excessively clustered fruits.

Concurrently, vine training is essential, particularly within a bower system; this involves regularly training vines onto the trellis to optimize light exposure and air circulation, supplemented by annual pruning of excessively tangled or old and unproductive vines, best done after the main harvest season in December and January.”

Pest and Disease Management

Common Pests

a) Fruit Fly

Fruit flies, particularly Bactrocera species, are among the most destructive pests in pointed gourd farming. Effective management includes using cue-lure or methyl eugenol traps, applying bait sprays made of Malathion mixed with jaggery, bagging individual fruits, harvesting on time, and maintaining field sanitation to reduce infestation.

b) Red Pumpkin Beetle

“The Red Pumpkin Beetle is a significant pest, primarily targeting young cucurbit plants by chewing and damaging tender seedlings and foliage, which can severely hinder growth or kill young plants.

To manage infestations effectively, several control strategies are employed, including organic methods such as dusting affected plants with ash or applying neem cake around the base of the plants. When infestations are severe, chemical control using insecticides like Carbaryl (a carbamate insecticide) is also a common recommendation for rapid and effective suppression of the beetle population.

c) Aphids/Whiteflies

“Aphids and whiteflies are sap-sucking pests that weaken plants by feeding on leaves and shoots, curling, yellowing, stunting, and sooty mold from honeydew; they also spread diseases. Manage them by spraying neem oil or insecticidal soap solution, which disrupts growth and causes dehydration. For severe infestations, apply systemic insecticides like Imidacloprid (a neonicotinoid) cautiously, as part of an integrated approach.”

Major Diseases

a). Powdery Mildew

A widespread fungal disease, powdery mildew, is characterized by noticeable white, powdery growth, mainly on the leaf surfaces. If left unchecked, it can significantly lower yields, damage plants, and prevent photosynthesis.

The management strategy emphasizes early intervention using contact fungicides, such as wettable sulfur or sulfur dust, which immediately suppress the fungus and form a protective barrier. When an infection is more severe, systemic fungicides like Tebuconazole or Myclobutanil are used; these are absorbed by the plant and interfere with fungal growth from within.

b) Downy Mildew

Downy mildew is a destructive fungal disease characterized by angular yellow spots on upper leaf surfaces and distinctive purple-gray fuzzy growth on the undersides, thriving in cool, humid conditions and rapidly defoliating plants if untreated.

Control requires preventive fungicide applications starting at early symptom onset: contact protectants like Mancozeb form a barrier against spores, while systemic options such as Fosetyl-Al (which boosts plant immunity) and Metalaxyl-based products (targeting cellular functions) move internally to halt infection. Rotate fungicide classes and combine with cultural practices (reduced leaf wetness, spacing for airflow) to manage resistance and improve efficacy.

c) Mosaic Virus

Mosaic virus is an incurable systemic disease characterized by stunted growth, distorted leaves with irregular yellow/light-green mottling or mosaic patterns, and reduced yields, primarily spread by aphids and other sap-sucking insect vectors.

Management focuses exclusively on prevention and containment: rigorously control vector populations using insecticidal soaps, neem oil, or systemic insecticides like Imidacloprid 1ml/liter water; immediately rogue (remove and destroy) symptomatic plants to eliminate infection sources; disinfect tools between plants to prevent mechanical transmission; and use certified virus-free seeds or resistant varieties where available, as NO CHEMICAL CURE exists for infected plants.

 Harvesting

Yield

Under good management, average annual production ranges from 8,000 to 12,000 kg per acre per year.

Cost of Investment Per Acre for Pointed Gourd Farming

Income from Per Acre Pointed Gourd Farming

Analysis of Pointed Gourd Farming Profit Per Acre

The total investment cost for pointed gourd farming is NRs. 41,000 per acre. Against this cost, the total income generated is NRs. 160,000 per acre, resulting in a net profit of NRs. 119,000 (calculated as NRs. 160,000 – NRs. 41,000). This represents an exceptional Return on Investment (ROI) of approximately 290.24%, derived from the formula ROI = (Net Profit / Total Cost) × 100 = (119,000 / 41,000) × 100.

Crop Calendar of Pointed Gourd Farming (Per Acre)

Sources

National Horticulture Board (NHB), India

Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU)

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)