Production and marketing of vegetables in Palakkad district

Abstract

The present study on the economic analysis of production and marketing of vegetables in Palakkad district was aimed at analyzing the economics of vegetables viz; bittergourd, snakegourd and ivy gourd and to assess the technical efficiency, marketing efficiency and constraints faced by the vegetable growers. The study was conducted in Nemmara block of Palakkad district, which was one of the major vegetable growing belts in the district having a larger proportion of area under bittergourd, snakegourd and ivy gourd when compared to other vegetables. A sample of 60 growers for each vegetable was selected. Two stage random sampling procedure was adopted for the study and percentage analysis was used to analyse the data. The profitability was estimated using ABC cost concepts and technical efficiency was estimated using stochastic frontier production function of Cobb Douglas form. Bulkline costs were calculated for the three vegetables. Marketing efficiency was worked out using Shepherd’s formula. Total expenditure at Cost C3 at aggregate level was Rs.105717, Rs.103277, Rs.137498 and Rs.98711 for bittergourd, snakegourd, ivy gourd-main crop and ivy gourd-ratoon crop respectively. The explicit costs, which included all the paid out costs, were Rs.55027, Rs.54293, Rs.72934 and Rs.38217 respectively for the three vegetables. The outputs per hectare were 23721 kg/ha, 23999 kg/ha, 19364 kg/ha and 16764 kg/ha respectively in the case of bittergourd, snakegourd, ivy gourd (main crop) and ivy gourd (ratoon crop). The total value of output per hectare of these vegetables were 1.86 lakh, 1.17 lakh,1.36 lakh and1.17 lakh rupees in the respective order. Cost of production per quintal of bittergourd were Rs.226, Rs.247, Rs.226, Rs.261, Rs.370 Rs.405 and Rs.446 per quintal in the respective order for cost A1, cost A2, cost B1, cost B2, cost C1 cost C2 and C3. These costs were observed in the respective order as Rs.226, Rs.247, Rs.226, Rs.261, Rs.359, Rs.391 and Rs.430 in the case of snakegourd. An amount of Rs.344, Rs.375, Rs.344, Rs.473, Rs.516, Rs.646 and Rs.710 respectively were spent to produce one quintal of ivy gourd-main crop on the above costs. The corresponding figures for ivy gourd-ratoon crop were Rs.234, Rs.269, Rs.234, Rs.383, Rs.386 Rs.535 and Rs.589. Bulkline cost per quintal for bittergourd, snakegourd, ivy gourd (main crop) and ivy gourd (ratoon crop) were Rs.508, Rs.484, Rs.852 and Rs.768 respectively. The net income for bittergourd, snakegourd and ivy gourd (main crop) and ivy gourd (ratoon crop) were Rs.80478, Rs. 13288, Rs. –1951 and Rs.18636 respectively. At cost C3 level, benefit cost ratio of bittergourd and snakegourd were 1.76 and 1.13 in the respective order. The corresponding figures for ivy gourd-main crop and ivy gourd-ratoon crop were 0.99 and 1.16 respectively. Bittergourd had the highest BC ratio (3.38) at paid out cost level followed by ivygourd-ratoon crop (3.07), snakegourd (2.15) and ivy gourd-main crop (1.86) For bittergourd, snakegourd and ivy gourd, mean technical efficiencies were 0.85,0.91 and 0.58 respectively when land was included as one of the variables. In the case where mounds were added as a variable instead of land, mean technical efficiencies were worked out to be 0.88 for bittergourd and 0.92 for both snakegourd and ivy gourd. Technical efficiency of the individual farms varied widely between 30 and 100 per cent. The channel, Producer – VFPCK market – wholesaler – Retailer– consumer, was the most important marketing channel in the case of bittergourd and snake gourd, while the channel, Producer – Commission agent – Wholesaler – Retailer – Consumer was identified as the most important one for ivy gourd. In the case of bitter gourd, producer’s share in consumer’s rupee was Rs. 7.6 (50.70 per cent) whereas in the case of snakegourd it was Rs. 4.75 (47.50 per cent). For ivy gourd, the same was Rs. 5.44 per kg. (36.3 per cent). The index of marketing efficiency was highest for bittergourd (1.03) followed by snakegourd (0.91) and ivy gourd (0.57). The most important constraint faced by the vegetable growers in the study area was the incidence of pests and diseases. It was followed by the problems of high input cost, inadequacy of capital, non-availability of labor and low price of the produce