Abstract:
Commercial vegetable production using hydroponics method is relatively new in Thailand. Presently, only a few number of farmers employ this technique___ mainly due to it involves high initial investment cost. The main objective of this study was to analyze financial return of hydroponics vegetable farm. The data were obtained from2 commercial farms: Fresh Hydrofarm Co.,Ltd in which cultivating equipments imported from aboard, and Meaklong Vegetable Co.,Ltd in which equipments were modified and produced domestically.The results of cost and return analysis of Fresh Hydrofarm Co.,Ltd. And Meaklong Vegetable Co.,Ltd. Showed that cost of building and instruments were 3,654,400 and 4,690,280 baht per farm, respectively. The variable costs were 14,143.67 and 19,90,93 baht per production run, with average yields of 400 and 500 kilograms respectively. Selling prices of the two farms were 70.12 and 68.40 baht per kilogram, and net income over cash cost were 33.94 and 24.31 baht per kilogram, respectively.The results of financial analysis of the investment in hydroponics vegetable farm of Fresch Hydrofarm Co.,Ltd. And Meaklong Vegetable Co.,Ltd., with the discount rate of 8.5 percent, showed that both farms were financially feasible. Sensitivity analysis, assurming the price declines to a minimum level at 50 baht kilogram and yield were fixed constant at their current levels, indicated that Fresh Hydrofarm Co.,Ltd. was not financially feasible. The results of the switching value analysis at the discount rate of 8.5 percent showed the break even prices were 50.11 and 49.47 baht per kilogram while the break even yields were 25,725.60 and 65,097.00 kilograms per year, respectively.