Profitability and resource use efficiency of potato cultivation in Munshiganj district of Bangladesh

F Islam,Hk Sujan,Mh Kazal,Rk Mondal

doi:10.3329/sja.v15i2.35151

Abstract

Potato is the third largest food crop in Bangladesh by tonnage of production. Its acreage and production are also increasing in day after day. This study was accomplished to examine the profitability and resource use efficiency of potato cultivation in five upazilas of Munshiganj district of Bangladesh. A total of 52 farmers were selected randomly from the study area. Data were collected through farm survey by using a suitable pre-tested questionnaire in February-March, 2016. Profitability analysis, Cobb-Douglas production function, MVP, MFC and Farm Budgeting model were used to analyze the objectives. Average gross return, gross margin and net return were found Tk. 3,47,200, Tk. 1,47,125 and Tk. 1,17,300, respectively. Benefit-cost ratio was found 1.51 and 1.74 on full cost and variable cost basis, respectively. The key production factors, i.e. human labour, land preparation, seed, fertilizer, insecticides and irrigations had significant effect on gross return of potato. Resource use efficiency analysis revealed that farmers were not efficient in using resources in potato cultivation. Human labor, land preparation, insecticide and irrigation were under-utilized and therefore increasing use of those resources could maximize the profitability. Seed and fertilizer constituted major parts of the cost of production hence optimum use of those resources could also enhance the profitability and resource use efficiency of potato cultivation in Munshiganj district.SAARC J. Agri., 15(2): 193-206 (2017)

Highlights

Potato is an important and leading staple crop of the world and occupied topmost position after rice and wheat in respect of production consumption (Akhter et al., Accepted: 20.10.20171998)
Islam et al (2000) carried out a research on the title “Potato production system in Bangladesh: Resource use, productivity, efficiency and comparative profitability of true potato seed technology over traditional tuber technology” and found from efficiency analysis that the potato growers using TPS technology allocated their resources in rational stage of production
The return to scale of potato cultivation in Munshiganj district was found around 0.59 which indicate the diminishing return to scale. It means potato farmers allocated their resources in the rational stage of production (Stage-II) where lower amount of return would be added to the gross return by using each additional units of input to the potato cultivation

Summary

Introduction

Potato is an important and leading staple crop of the world and occupied topmost position after rice and wheat in respect of production consumption (Akhter et al., Accepted: 20.10.20171998). The Tuber Crop Research Centre (TCRC) of BARI released 40 HYV potato varieties which have good yield potential and tolerant to insect pests and diseases (Haque et al, 2012). Cardinal and Granola are the most popular varieties among all the released varieties of BARI and are largely grown in Munshiganj, Rangpur and Bogra district respectively (Khalil et al, 2013) These varieties have been distributed to the farmers through different GOs, NGOs and private firms. Sufficient number of research work were not undertaken for analyzing the profitability and resource use efficiency of potato production in a major potato producing area like Munshiganj district. The specific objective of the present study is to analyze the profitability, resource use efficiency and the factors affecting the production of potato in the selected study area

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion