Economic Analysis of Potato Production in Meerut District of Western Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Potato is one of the most important vegetable crops grown in all over the world India's position in potato production is concerned, it ranked second after China. India accounted for about 10.00 percent of the world acreage under potato and about 10.35 per cent its production. Its production has increased substantially from 1.66 million tonnes in the year 1950-51 to 42.64 million tonnes in the year 2011-12. In India, Uttar Pradesh producing 14125.10 (000 'Metric tonnes) of potato from the 567.70 thousand hectares area with productivity of 24.88 tonnes per hectare during 2011-12, stands on first rank in the production with its share of 33.12 percent. The crux of the problem of increasing agricultural production in any area is to increase the output per unit of input. The cost of cultivation is em important economic indicator in well being of the farmer's propensity. Wide variations hm1e been noticed in the cost of cultivation of potato, which varies from region to region and even from farmer to farmer of given_ regions. The knowledge of cost and returns and marketing system of potato provide the idea of profitability and infrastructure required for ils successful post harvest management. The present study was attempt on "Economic analysis of Potato Production in Meerut District of Western Uttar Pradesh" with the following objectives (i) To know the socio economic profile of the sample households. (ii) To work out the costs and returns of potato production at different size group of farms. (iii) To identify the Marketing channel of potato in the stud"u' ar ea an d al s o work out t he prr·c e spre ad o~"potato marketing. To meet out the objectives of the ~ · stud"u' sa z· h . 1 d t elect District and Block on the basis highest area under mp mg tee mque was emp oye o s Potato d h . A t ·andom sampling technique was used. Farmer's were an t an for vrllages and responuen s 1 categ .· . . .r · e o~"holding and than 100 respondents were selected 011es rnto four categories on the basrs OJ srz ~ tegories into four categories on the basis of size oifholding and th 100 d ca an respon ents were selected in probability proportion to their population, for the collection of data. Required statistical tools were ell,nfoved to meet the objectives. The major socio economicfiactor.'S lz'kefi ·1 · · . if r " am1 y szze, zncome, szze o holding, education level, and occupation of respondents, cropping pattern and farm assets were identified. The condition oflarge farmers were found better than the other category farmers because of more holding size, highly qualified, more assets and income sources, than that of medium following by small and marginal. The overall cost of cultivation of potato was estimated to be Rs. 146785 per hectare. The share of variable and fiXed cost was 64.08 and 7. 73 percent. In the variable cost highest expenditure was observed on human labour 20.05 percent. Rental value of land alone accounted to be 19.07 percent of the total cost. The total cost of cultivation had positive relationship size of farms. Share of cost A1 was 58.24 percent in the cost C, cost A2.B1.B2 C1 ~nd C2 were found inversely related with size of farm. The overall average yield was found to be 472.38 quintal/hectare. Five marketing channel of potato were identified in the study area and among then, fifth channel was found to be more efficient because the producer share in consumer rupees was highest in channel fifth (65.52 percent) followed by channel first (60.41 percent), channel third (57.92 percent), channel second (57.71 percent) and cizannel fourth (56.04 percent). The price spread was found to be lowest (Rs.313.00) in channel fifth and highest for channel second (Rs.425.00). It means as decrease the number of middleman from the marketing system marketing efficiency may improve and vice-versa.