Economic profitability of cane based furniture enterprises of Chittagong City Corporation area, Bangladesh

Abstract

An exploratory survey was conducted to assess economic profitability of cane based furniture enterprises in Chittagong City Corporation area of Bangladesh. A multistage random sampling was adopted to carry out the study. Based on the total investment the enterprises were divided into large, medium and small.. Most of the entrepreneurs (55%) are in the age class 40–50 years and only (18.33%) are >50 years. In small and medium category lowest entrepreneurs (8.33% each) are found graduate and 18.33% in large farm. Most of the enterprises are in the small category (45%) and 66.67% labors are skilled whereas only 33.33% are unskilled. Seven articles of sixteen different sizes were identified made from cane, which are Sofa (45 cm × 45 cm, 50 cm × 50 cm and 55 cm × 55 cm), Dinning (4ch. 1tab, and 6ch. 1tab.), Bed (1 m × 2m, 1.3 m × 2.3 m and 1.5 m × 2.3 m), Chair (45 cm × 45 cm and 50 cm ×50 cm), Rocking chair (large size, medium and small size), Dolna (Hanging and Running) and Partition. In all the three category enterprises chair (45 cm × 45 cm) was produced in highest number and the lowest production was Bed (1.5 m × 2.3 m). The total net benefit (2089 US$) and benefit cost ratio (1:16) was the highest for large cane enterprises. So among three categories of the cane enterprises the large enterprises are more profitable than others.