What yield and price range does ash gourd (petha) give and can I store it?

Ash gourd (petha) gives a good tonnage of fruit per acre since each vine bears large heavy fruits. Its key advantage is storage, as the mature waxy fruit keeps for several months in a cool airy shed without any cold store, which lets you hold the crop and sell when the rate improves instead of dumping at harvest. There is steady demand for fresh cooking, the petha sweet industry, and Ayurvedic and juice uses. Prices are moderate but the storage ability smooths out the swings. Profit is reasonable and the low perishability is a real advantage over other gourds. Check your local market and any petha sweet or processing buyers, and ask nearby growers for realistic yields before deciding.