Economics of paddy cum prawn culture in pokkali lands of Ernakulam district

Abstract

The present investigation on the economics of paddy cum prawn culture in Pokkali lands of Ernakulam district was undertaken during the year 1995-96. The study focussed on estimation of cost and returns, measuring productivity of farm resources and identifying constraints in paddy cum prawn production. Data for the study was generated through a sample survey of farmers. Two stage sampling technique was adopted for the study with villages as the primary sampling units and prawn farmers as secondary sampling units, selected by random sampling method. The results of the cost structure analysis revealed that the largest single item of cost of operation was land preparation in paddy cum traditional prawn culture; and in paddy cum improved prawn culture, intercultural operations required the highest expenses. Among the explicit costs, labour accounted the highest share in paddy cum traditional prawn production and cost of materials was the most important item in paddy cum improved prawn production. Classwise analysis showed that cost A1, cost A2, cost BI, cost B2, cost C1 and cost C2 per hectare in class I were Rs.17490.43, Rs.l7490.43, Rs.17604.95, Rs.25104.95, RS.18591.53 and Rs.26091.53 respectively. In class II, these costs were Rs.21421.30, Rs.21421.30, Rs.21530.10, Rs.29030.10, Rs.23434.27 and Rs.30934.27. In class Ill, corresponding costs were Rs.25942.78, Rs.25942.78, Rs.16063.88, Rs.33563.88, RS.28646.63 and Rs.36146.63. In class IV, the costs were worked out to be Rs.39321.78, Rs.39321.78, Rs.39492.17, Rs.46992.17, Rs.41314.60 and Rs.48814.60 respectively. In class V, these costs were Rs.55782.10, Rs.55782.10, Rs.55950AI, Rs.63450AI, Rs.59433.92 and Rs.66933.92 respectively. For class VI, these costs were estimated to be Rs.79121.36, Rs.79121.36, Rs.79284.25, Rs.86784.25, RS.84700A2 and RS.92200A2 respectively. The average yield from main products of paddy and prawn were 2138.59 kg/ha and 385.25 kg/ha respectively. In class II their yields were 2189.30 kg/ha and 498.67 kg/ha respectively, while in class III the yields estimated to be 2211.25 kg/ha and 655.92 kg/ha from paddy and prawn. The yield obtained from paddy and prawn were 2143.33 kg/ha and 553.20 kg/ha respectively in class IV, and 2174.90 kg/ha and 865.21 kg/ha respectively in class V. In class VI the yield estimated to be 2272 kg/h~ and 1246.26 kg/ha from paddy and prawn respectively. Benefit-cost ratios based on cost A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 for class I were 1.56, 1.56, 1.54, 1.08, 1.46 and 1.04. In class II, benefit-cost ratios based on these costs were 1.61, 1.61, 1.60, 1.18, 1.47 and 1.12 respectively. For class Ill, benefit-cost ratio were 1.65, 1.65, 1.64, 1.27, 1.50 and 1.19 respectively. In class IV, these were computed to be 1.68, 1.68, 1.67, 1.40, 1.60 and 1.35 respectively, while for class V, these ratios were 1.74, 1.74, 1.73, 1.53, 1.63 and1.45. In class VI, they were estimated to be 1.75, 1.75, 1.74, 1.59, 1.64 and 1.50 respectively based on corresponding costs. The income measures in relation to different cost concepts such as gross income, farm business income, family labour income and net income at cost C1 in class I were Rs.27238.69, Rs.9788.26, Rs.2133.74 and RS.8647.16. These measures were Rs34510.17, Rs.13088.87, Rs.5480.07 and Rs.lI075.90 in class H. In class III they were computed as RsA2912.36, Rs.16964.58, RS.9348A8 and Rs.14265.73. For class IV these income measures were worked out to be Rs65941.55, Rs.26619.77, Rs.18948.38 and Rs.24626.95. In class V, the corresponding figures were Rs.96984.45, Rs.4l200.35, RS.33532.04 and Rs.37548.53 respectively. These incomes were Rs.138544.08, Rs.59422.72, Rs.51759.83 and RS.53843.66 in class VI respectively. Production function analysis was carried out using Cobb-Douglas production function seperately for paddy cum traditional prawn production and paddy cum improved prawn production on per farm and per hectare basis. Per farm estimates of production function for paddy cum improved prawn production revealed that the regression coefficient of only one independent variable, viz., area, was estimated to be positive and significant. The production elasticity of labour, seed, feed, eradicants and manures were found to be positive but non-significant. Analysis of per hectare estimates of production function showed that elasticities of production for labour and seed were negative and non-significant. In both per farm and per hectare functional analysis the two dummy variables and also the intercept of the function were found to be significant which indicate that paddy cum 3 crops of improved prawn culture is more profitable than paddy cum for I and 2 crops of Improved prawn culture. Regarding paddy cum traditional prawn culture per farm estimates of the functions revealed that only the regression coefficient of area was found to be positive and significant. The elasticities of production of labour and seed were estimated to be negative and non-significant. Per hectare estimates of the function revealed that the production elasticity of labour was found to be negative and non- sigrnficant. The production elasticity of seed was found to be significant with negative sign which indicates over use of this input. In both per farm and per hectare functional analysis, the two dummy variables and the intercept of the function found to be significant which indicates the paddy cum 3 crops of traditional prawn culture IS more profitable than paddy cum 1 or 2 crops of traditional prawn culture. Non-availability of labour and their increased cost formed the major constraint to both paddy cum improved prawn culture and paddy cum traditional prawn culture. Problem of submergence followed by higher price of inputs and salinity and acidity were the next important constraints in paddy cum traditional prawn culture. Non-availability of prawn seed/fry followed by submergence and high cost of inputs formed second, third and fourth important constraints in paddy cum improved prawn culture. Salinity and acidity formed the fifth important constraint in the case of paddy cum improved prawn culture.