Comparative economics of maize and paddy cultivation in Punjab

Abstract

This paper was an attempt to analyze the economics of maize (Zea mays L.) production and marketing in Punjab state of India. Two districts namely Hoshiarpur and SBS Nagar were selected for the collection of primary data from a sample of 100 maize growers. Multistage random sampling technique was employed to select sample representing different farm size categories to examine comparative economics of maize and its major competing crop (paddy) has been worked out. The data were collected using structured interview schedule. The results revealed that there was a major shift of maize area to rice. The assured market for paddy ensures better returns from paddy cultivation under present price policy. The results revealed that none of farmers sold their produce to the government agencies as the public procurement agencies do not procure maize which depressed the maize prices as compared to its MSP. The farmers have to sell their produce with high moisture content due to lack of drying facilities. Some high capacity dryers are there which are not beneficial to farmers having less farm produce. There is a need of low capacity dryers and set up of maize processing industries to enable farmers to fetch remunerative prices of maize produce. So, strengthening research to develop high yielding varieties and improvement in market infrastructure are prerequisites to make this crop more profitable.