Economic analysis of turmeric production and its constraints in Karb I Anglong and Dima Hasao district of Assam

Abstract

Turmeric is one of the important spices crops grown in India and is known as the “land of spices”. The study was done using primary data using well structured pre-tested schedule through personal interview method during 2020 from three villages under Lumbajong Development Block of Karbi Anglong district and three villages from Harangajao Development block of Dima Hasao district making a sample of 90 farmers for the study purpose. The total cost incurred was found be increasing with the larger farm size for different farm category. The B:C ratio was found highest in Marginal farm at 1.85 and for overall it was estimated at 1.60 indicating profitability of ginger cultivation in the study area. For marginal farmers, the regression co-efficient showed increasing return to scale while small and medium as well as overall farm showed decreasing returns to scale. The ratio of MVP to MFC was found to be greater than unity in marginal and medium farm for all the inputs used i.e. seeds (X1), FYM (X2) and Human labour (X3) whereas for small farmers, human labour (X3) indicates negative and for overall farm size it was positive but less than one. Pest and diseases was the major problem associated with the turmeric growers in the study area. Study suggested that establishment of nursery for production of diseases free seed rhizome should be encouraged among the farmers through dissemination of technical knowledge, provision of small farm machineries for land development to solve labour shortage and dissemination of extension service at village level to reach the unreached needy farmers.