Bullock Labour Research Articles

A comparative economics of natural farming and conventional farming of rice cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh

The study was conducted in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, East Siang district was purposively selected due to its reliance on agriculture as the primary livelihood with rice being the main crop. Primary data was collected from 45 respondents each from natural and conventional farming making the sample total 90, for the year 2022-23 of kharif season. The growth rate in area, production and productivity at the world, India, East Siang district as well as state of Arunachal Pradesh were found to be positive. Significance difference was observed on cost of bullock labour, machine labour, seeds and plant protection in natural farming. The total cost of rice cultivation was lower in natural farming by 29.49 per cent. Although the yield and gross returns was lower in natural farming but the net returns was significantly higher than conventional farming by mean difference of ? 6119.78 per hectare. The study also highlights potential gender-based variations in labor requirements, observing natural farming as labour intensive farming. In both natural and conventional farming, the per cent of total female labour utilization was observed to be higher than total male labour.

Profitability of onion seed production in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra

The present study entitled, ‘Profitability of Onion Seed Production in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra’ is based on a sample of 90onion seed growers drawn from Shrigonda, Nagar and Parner tehsils ofAhmednagar district. Three villages from each tehsil were selected randomly and from six villages, 15 onion seed growers were selected from each village on the basis of the actual area under onion seed. All onion seed growers were categorized into three different groups (five in each group), i.e. Category I (below 0.05ha), Category II (0.05 to 0.15 ha) and Category III (0.15 ha and above). Thus, the final sample consisted of 90 onion seed growers. The primary data collected for the agriculture year 2021–22 was analyzed by using mathematical and statistical calculations. At the overall level, the per hectare cost of cultivation of onion seed worked out to be Rs. 549224.68. The cost ‘A’ was Rs. 265391.85, contributing 48.33 per cent of the cost ‘C’. In cost ‘A’, the major item of cost were bulbs, i.e. Rs. 139792.34, contributing 25.45 per cent of the cost ‘C’. The expenditure on total hired human labour, bullock labour, machine power, manure and plant protection charges was worked out to Rs. 54466.67, Rs. 1200, Rs. 24000, Rs. 5995.67 and Rs.1442.25 which accounted for 9.92, 0.22, 4.37, 1.09 and 0.26 per cent of the share in cost ‘C’, respectively. At the overall level, the per hectare gross return was found to be Rs.1448098.61 and the B:C ratio at cost ‘C’ was 2.63. It clearly indicated that onion seed cultivation is a profitable venture.

Resource Use Efficiency in Paddy Production in the Salinity Affected and the Unaffected Areas of Alappuzha District in Kerala: An Economic Analysis

Rice is one of the foremost and principal food crops in the world, feeding more than four billion people primarily in Asia and India stands second in the production of rice after China with highest production. Even though rice is a staple food of Kerala, it occupies less than 7.7 per cent of the total cropped area. Kerala is known for its cultivation of paddy below the sea level. Salt water intrusion is the major problem in these areas. In this context, the present study aims to examine the efficiency of resource-use in paddy production in the salinity affected and the unaffected areas of Alappuzha District in Kerala. The study was based on the primary data collected from 50 rice farmers, viz 25 from salt water affected and 25 from unaffected areas and Cobb Douglas production function was used to estimate the resource use efficiency. The study revealed that the inputs viz., hired labour, manures and fertilizers, soil ameliorants, plant protection chemicals, machine and bullock labour power had a positive and significant effect on the rice yield in both salinity affected and unaffected areas. The returns to scale worked out for unaffected and affected farmers was 2.24 and 1.31 respectively. Chow test revealed that there is a significant difference in coefficients between the factors affecting yield of paddy among the salt water affected and the unaffected farmers. Marginal productivity analysis revealed that economic efficiency of all the variables except manures and fertilizers was more than one, indicating their sub-optimum usage and there exist the chances of improving the yield by the enhanced application of these inputs.

Dynamics of Cotton Farming in Kalahandi District of Odisha

The present research attempted to explore the cost-returns profile and resource use efficiency of cotton cultivation in the Kalahandi district of Odisha by collecting primary data from 300 sample cotton farmers based on their operational landholdings. The resource use efficiency was measured using the Cobb-Douglas production function. The results concluded that the farmers should utilize more bullock labour, pesticide and seed inputs for higher benefits. The major cost components of cotton cultivation were hired human labour (23.89 per cent), followed by fertilizers (12.13 per cent), machine labour (10.09 per cent) and manure (10.02 per cent). The overall cost of cotton cultivation was `25,385 per acre, and the gross return was `56,799 per acre. The benefit-cost ratio of the overall farmers was estimated to be 2.23, indicating the profitability of the cotton crop.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY FOR RESOURCE USE EFFICIENCY OF TRAINED AND UNTRAINED FARM WOMEN

The resource-use efficiency of crop production have been computed using primary data collected from 240 farm women respondents i.e. 120 trained and 120 untrained spread over eight villages of Junagadh district. The multistage, purposive and random sampling techniques were used for the study. The study has revealed that planting material, plant protection chemicals, chemical fertilizers, human labor and irrigation had a positive and significant influence on crop yield. For trained farm women economic efficiency of human-labour, chemical fertilizers, bullock labour and plant chemicals were greater than unity and it indicates that these resources are being used at sub optimum level and there exists the possibility of enhancing the production by increasing their use. The ratios of irrigation and planting material were less than unity, there by indicating over utilization of the said variables. Whereas, for untrained farm women the variables human-labour, chemical fertilizers and plant protection chemicals were observed to be greater than unity ad of bullock-labour, irrigation and planting material were less than unity. The cost invested in underutilized variables should be decreased and the use of underutilized resources should be encouraged. Hence, moving towards achieving the ratios of unity or optimal use which will increase the production for per unit cost spent.

Factors Affecting Production of Oilseeds and Cash Crop in Rajasthan: The Cobb-Douglas Analysis

Indian Economy is an emerging economy, but it is still an agricultural economy because most people earn their livelihood from agriculture. The results from the study showed that seed, fertilizer, and manure were positively significantly affecting rapeseed & mustard and soybean production. The variables such as fertilizer and human labour were found positive and significant, while bullock labour measures had a significant negative effect on sesamum production. The variables, namely fertilizer, human labour and irrigation water, were found positively significant in estimating the production function of cotton, whereas plant protection measures were found to be negatively significant contributing factors. Proper management of costly inputs needs strengthening the extension services. Judicious use of inputs like pesticides and fertilizers not only help in keeping low production costs but will also maintain soil health and sustain productivity.

Cost and Profitability of Wheat in the major Wheat Producing States of India

Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in India. The present study examined the cost and profitability of wheat. The result found that bullock labour was substituted by machines. Madhya Pradesh showed the highest and positive, highly significant growth rate and lowest by the Punjab state for all the costs. Madhya Pradesh showed the lowest cost of cultivation compared to other states, revealing wheat production in the state was more cost-effective as compared to other states. Break even analysis showed all the five wheat-producing states were operating in the profit zone but break-even yield widened in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, it means profitability was increasing in these states.

Performance of Cost and Prices of Soybean in Vidarbha

"In Maharashtra State, the area under soybean cultivation during 2019-20 was 4124.01 (000) hectares with total production of 4825.63 (000) tonnes. Maharashtra is the second largest soybean growing state in the country. In Vidarbha region the area under soybean cultivation during 2019-20 was 4124.01 (000) hectares with production of 4825.63 (000) tonnes. Keeping in view the importance of Soybean crop in Vidarbha the present study was conducted with an defined objectives & methodology. The study revealed that, the growth rates of Area, Production & Productivity indicates stagnant growth during the study period. The coefficient of variation of Area Production & Productivity were 8.78 %, 33.19% and 35.12% respectively. The coefficient of variation in input utilization for soybean was ranges from 3.19% to 180%. However highest for female labour i.e., 180.78% whereas the growth rates for male labour and bullock labour were declined by -1.94 and -11.42 % per annum respectively. The cost of cultivation is in increasing trend. On the other hand CGR for Cost of Production was estimated 8.25% per annum and statistically found significant. However MSP increases at the rate of 9.66 % per annum and Price received by farmer at 4.54% per annum. The share of input cost to the total cost was highest in Hired Human Labour (Male & Female) i.e., 18.68%. Followed by Machine power and Seed component 13.25% and 11.16% respectively. The average yield was receive 13.24 qtl/ha. The input output ratio at Cost A is 1.41, Cost B is 1.06 and at Cost C no profit no loss was recorded. The input out put ratio at Cost A & B was more. Which means crop is profitable at variable cost, farmers were received higher producers price than MSP. But the cost of Production was more than MSP. The parity between Cost of Production and MSP was ranges from ` 162.58 to ` 1788.12 during last ten years. The study further indicates that on an average the percentage of cost of production over previous year was 1.19% on an average of last ten years. Hence farmers were getting the price as equal to MSP. However MSP changes with constant increase ranges from 100.00 to 132.00 % to present year."

​Factors Affecting Production of Important Pulse Crops in Rajasthan: A Cobb Douglas Analysis

Background: Pulses are one of the most important food crops grown globally owed to their higher protein content. It also accounts for larger financial gains of the agricultural sector by amounting for a large part of the exports. The present study was carried out to determine the factors affecting production of pulse crops in Rajasthan. Methods: This paper based on secondary data collected over the years i.e. from 2000-01 to 2017-18. The Cobb-douglas production function was used to the observation for the estimation of elasticity of selected variables contributing to the production of pulses in Rajasthan state, Cobb douglas type production function was employed to assess the effects of seed, fertilizer, manure, human labour, irrigation, bullock labour and plant protection measures on pulses production. Result: The results from the study have shown that fertilizer and plant protection measures were positively significant while the variable corresponding to irrigation water was negatively significantly affecting the gram production. The variables such as seed and irrigation water were found positive and significant, while plant protection measures had significant negative effect on black gram production. Only two variables namely, fertilizer and irrigation water were found positively significant out of estimating production function of green gram.

Resource Use Efficiency Among Aerobic and Conventional Rice Farms in Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka: A Comparative Analysis

The efficiency with which farmers use available resources is very important for agricultural production. This study examines the comparative resource use efficiency (RUE) between aerobic and conventional rice farms in Eastern Dry Zone (Zone-5) of Karnataka. Cross-sectional data were collected from 100 rice cultivating farmers (50 in Aerobic farms and 50 in Conventional farms) using snow ball sampling technique. Cobb-Douglas production function, Marginal analysis of resource utilization, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) were some of the analytical tools used in the study. The mean aerobic farm size was 0.43 ha while in Conventional rice, it was 0.63 ha. The physical water use efficiency (WUE) in aerobic farms (3.84 q/acre inch) was higher than conventional farms (1.64 q/acre inch). Also, the economic WUE was higher in aerobic farms (1643.54 `/acre inch) compared to conventional farms (269.41 `/acre inch). RUE indicated that, resources were not optimally utilized in both Aerobic Rice Cultivation (ARC) and Conventional Rice Cultivation (CRC). Bullock labour, machine labour, seeds and irrigation were underutilized in ARC, whereas, FYM was underutilized in CRC indicating that usage of additional amount of these inputs leads to increase in the returns. The DEA revealed that aerobic rice cultivating farms were more technically and economically efficient compared to conventional rice cultivating farms. Effective policies to promote and create awareness about aerobic rice can boost the rice production and productivity sustainably. The focus should be given to optimal allocation of resources which enhances the farm productivity and returns

Growth rate of cost of cultivation of soybean in Maharashtra States of India

In India, many states grow soybean crops but Madhya Pradesh has the first position in soybean-growing states and it is also known as soya state. Maharashtra and Rajasthan state has a second and third position in India. Three states mainly Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan accounted for almost 90% of the area under soybean cultivation. The area of soybean in Madhya Pradesh is 5.91million hectares with a total production of 4.91million tonnes with an average yield of 831million kg/ha. Maharashtra and Rajasthan cultivate soybean in an area of 3.70 and 1.20 million hectares with a production of 2.06 and 1.00 million tonnes with an average yield of 557 and 833 million kg/ ha respectively (Agricultural statistical at a glance 2016). Twenty years of data were collected for the study. The area, production, and productivity, cost of cultivation, gross income, factors affecting the profitability of soybean by collected from secondary data. Secondary data was collected from different publications. The analytical tools used were absolute change, relative change, simple growth rate, compound growth rate and coefficient of variation. The trend and growth rates of labour cost in Maharashtra showed that more than 50 per cent of the costs were incurred in human labor followed by machine labour and bullock labour. The bullock labour constituted about 18 per cent of the total labour costs and surprisingly much of labour cost in Maharashtra was not substituted by machine labour as observed in Madhya Pradesh. Decrease in the labour units for the cultivation of one hectare of land over the study period in Maharashtra shows that the marginal productivity of labour in soybean cultivation was increasing which was desirable. Increase in the labor cost was due to the increase in the unit labor rate. The bullock labour units were also showed a decreasing trend during the study period but the unit rate was increasing. Trend and growth of major inputs indicated that seed, fertilizers and manures, plant protection chemicals and irrigation were the major inputs used in Maharashtra. The highest growth rate was observed in plant protection chemicals which further depicted the increasing use of chemicals in pests and disease management or increasing incidence of pests and disease in soybean cultivation. Followed by, growth in irrigation charges also increased indicating that more investment for irrigation was observed in the soybean farmers of Maharashtra. The quantity of seed was decreasing but fertilizers and manures used per hectare were increasing during the study period in Maharashtra. Similar to Madhya Pradesh the unit rates for the inputs were increasing resulting in the increase in the input costs. Similar to Madhya Pradesh, the increase in the cost of seed incurred can be due to use of hybrid seed. The increase in the cost of manure can be due to farmers were not having sufficient own farm manure which makes the farmer to buy it from other sources. Therefore, there is an increase demand for manure in the market. Which pushes the demand for manure in the market and thereby pushes the price of manures. Trend and growth of fixed cost incurred in cultivation of soybean in Maharashtra showed that the total fixed cost per ha was increasing at a growth rate of 9.39. All the item of fixed cost had shown increasing except for land revenue cesses and taxes. Thus, the total cost of cultivation of Soybean in Maharashtra was increasing during the study period at a growth rate of 8.91 per cent. Similarly, the cost of producing per quintal of soybean increased at a growth rate of 8.61 per cent. Thus, all the cost components like labour costs, input costs and fixed costs were increasing during the study period making the farmer to invest more in the same piece of land.

Economics of farm mechanisation in bengalgram cultivation in Northern Dry Zone of Karnataka

This paper attempts to evaluate the impact of mechanisation in bengalgram cultivation in northern dry zone of Karnataka. The study was based on primary data, obtained through personal interview method using well-structured and pre-tested schedules. The total sample size was 60. The data pertained to the year 2017-18. The budgeting technique and output decomposition model were used to evaluate the impact of mechanization. Extent of reduction in human labour and bullock labour was 18.30 man days and 13.00 pair days by adopting mechanization. The expenditure of non-mechanised farmers was Rs. 4,497.95 higher than mechanised farmers in cultivating bengalgram. The mechanised farms used slightly fewer quantities of inputs compared to non-mechanised farms. Yield was observed to be higher in mechanised farms (9.49 q/ha). While the non-mechanised farmers incurred loss due to higher cost of cultivation. The cost of cultivation was Rs. 124.71 higher than gross return. The output decomposition model revealed that mechanised farms produced 47.23 per cent higher income in bengalgram than that in non-mechanised farms. The mechanisation alone contributed 50.10 per cent increase in income, while fewer labour use of inputs depressed the income marginally.

Assessment of cost and returns of onion growing farmers in Deogarh district, Orissa, India

Horticulture being the paramount importance to the Indian economy and also provide way for diversification and also generate employment to a vast workforce in Indian agriculture. Further the horticulture provides ample opportunity for the advancement of production techniques. Onion being an important horticulture crop with maximum production comes from the Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh but Orissa also cultivate onion on 333189 hectares during both season with net production of about 3.95 lakh MT in 2016 as per agricutlture statistics 2016-17, Orissa also latest NSSO survey estimated that annual requirement of onion in state is 2.32 lakh MT. It shows the production is more than the requirement so a large surplus goes in waste (Gulati, 1994). Keeping the economic view of onion production in Orissa, Reamal block of Deogarh district which contributed about 90 per cent production of onion crop to the district. Due to high cost of inputs and ignorance about improved practices general farmers cannot use the advanced technology judiciously. So, the present study took the issue of cost and return on different onion grower’s farms. The primary data were classified and tabulated in the light of stated objectives of the study and analyzed as per the suitable statistics and economic tools as follows: The estimates of profitability were based on different costs and returns incurred in onion cultivation like cost A, B and C concepts. Cost studies shows that average cost of cultivation is Rs. 40423 per hectare and the bullock labour employed in onion cultivation is a major source of expenditure in total cost of cultivation. While gross income able to cover the cost which made Benefit Cost Ratio 1.94 which means the onion cultivation is beneficial for the farmer in Deogarh district of Orissa.

Impact of National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) on Maize Farming In Mahaboobnagar District of Telangana

National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) serves as an effective institutional mechanism to cope with production risks. The study has assessed the impact of NAIS on maize farming in Mahaboobnagar district of Telangana. It has a special influence on the utilization of high value inputs, which in turn has contributed towards enhancing returns from farming. It can be observed that insured farmers have invested more on hired human, machine and bullock labour, seeds, manures, fertilizers, plant protection chemicals, etc. than non-insured farmers mainly because of guaranteed compensation from NAIS.

Economics of foodgrain Crops in Himachal Pradesh: A Study of Solan District

Main purpose of the study is to determine the cost structure, profit margin and returns to scale of foodgrain crops. Foodgrain crops selected for investigation are wheat, maize and paddy. Solan district was selected purposively. Data have been collected by personal interviews. Per hectare cost of cultivation of wheat, maize and paddy worked out as size-wise of holding and compared the cost of these crops and found that medium farms had maximum cultivation cost because their farm size were large, gross returns and net returns also worked out. Further Cobb- Douglous production function has been to get the estimates of elasticities of the inputs land, human labour, bullock labour, manure& fertilizers, seeds and capital. Results show that inputs have significant impact on the production of foodgrain crops and also show constant, increasing and decreasing returns to scale.

Diagnostic Analysis of Technology Adoption and Factors Influencing Adoption Level of Tribal Farmers of Madhya Pradesh

The agricultural technologies developed in the country have generated more income and employment to the cultivators. However, tribal dominated regions of Madhya Pradesh falling under such conditions of agricultural backwardness have not yet been able to benefit from the fruits of technological innovation fully or even partly. Keeping this in view a study on technology adoption and its determinants has been conducted in Santna districts of M.P. Using multistage stratified random sampling techniques total 120 tribal farmers were selected from 10 villages of two block such as majhgawan and shohawal RD block of Stana district of Madya Pradesh. The examination of technology adoption revealed that the area under study was characterized by preponderance of low level of technology adoption and smaller sized farms, the position of which in respect of adoption of new technology was quite disheartening. The increase in the level of adoption was accompanied by increase in the size of holding, use of family workers and maintenance of bullock pairs/machinery. The increase in investment on fixed capital, particularly farm implements and machinery was associated with increase in the technology adoption. Wheat and Soyabean were the predominant crops of the area under study with the highest percentage of area under HYVs compared to other crops. The intensity of cropping, use of bullock labour and hired human labour were found to increase with the increase in the level of adoption. The scores of social determinant particularly literacy index exhibited positive influence on the level of technology adoption. Similarly, the scores of psychological determinants, viz., attitude towards HYVs, risk orientation and credit orientation were observed to increase with the increase in Further, it was observed that increase in the level of adoption was associated with increase in the level of income from the crops grown on sample farms.

Resource productivity and resource use efficiency in soybean production

Investigation was carried out during the year 2014-15. About 48 non-residential farms were randomly selected from sixteen villages of two tehsils in Parbhani district of Maharashtra. Data were related to soybean output and input like area under crop, hired human labour, bullock labour, machine labour, seed, nitrogen, phophorus, potash, plant p rotection and family human labour. The result revealed that, partial regression co-efficient of area under crop was 0.385 followed by that hired human labour was (0.110) and family human labour (0.165) which were positive and singficant at 1 per cent and 5 per cent level, respectively. Patrial regression co-efficient of bullock labour, manchine labour, phosphorus and potash were positive but non-significant. Marginal product of area under soybean was 5.399 quintals followed by that of bullock labour (0.370q), machine labour (0.220 q) and family human labour (0.142 q). MVP to price ratio with respect to family human labour was 2.16 followed by bullock labour (1.70) and machine labour (1.34). Optimum use of area under soybean was found to be 1.94 hectares and optimum use of phosphorus was 60.24 kg.

Resource–use efficiency and technical efficiency of turmeric production in northern Karnataka

The present study is an attempt to assess the resource-use and technical efficiency in turmeric production in Northern Karnataka. For the study, 96 farmers practicing the cultivation of turmeric in both Bagalkot and Belagavi district were selected randomly. The data collected from the respondents were analysed using Cobb-Douglas (CD) production function and Timmer's output based measure of technical efficiency. The study revealed that, the MVP: MFC ratio was found more than unity in case of planting material, chemical fertilizers and plant protection chemicals in Belagavi district and bullock labour, machine labour and chemical fertilizers in Bagalkot district and nearly 50 per cent of the farmers were operating under less than 90 per cent technical efficiency ratings, mainly due to use of traditional cultivation practices. The major production and post-harvest constraint as opined by the sample farmers in both the districts were pest and disease attack and price fluctuation, respectively.

Economics of tur production in Amravati district

In this study, an attempt has been made to study the analysis of yield gap in tur in Amravati district with view to work out the economics tur production and resource use efficiency. The study was based on primary data on input used and there upon costs was collected from two tahsils viz., Amravati and Nandgoan khandeshwar from two tahsils 45 samples were selected. Per hectare input utilization for tur indicated that the medium farmers were used higher inputs as compared to other farm size group of farmers. Per hectare total cost of cultivation of tur for the sample as whole was Rs. 43118.82 per hectore. Gross retuns from tur at overall level was Rs.71349.48. The input-Output ratio at overall size cost 'C' was 1.65. for the study resource use efficiency of tur, Cobb-Douglas production function was used. In the overall group resources human labour, bullock labour, machine labour, fertilizer, plant protection and area were significant. Marginal value of product to factor cost ratio at overall group in case of human labour, machine labour, fertilizer was positive and bullock labour, seeds, manure, plant protection are negative. Marginal physical product to factor cost ratio indicates the change in total physical product to the change in input level of particular independent variable.

Economics of wheat production

In this study, an attempt has been made to study analysis of yield gap in wheat in Amravati district with view to study the economics of wheat production and resource use efficiency. The study was based on primary data on input used and there upon costs was collected from two tehsils viz., Amravati and Morshi and from each tahsil 45 samples were selected. Per hectare input utilization for wheat indicated that the medium farmers were used higher inputs as compared to other farm size group of farmers. Per hectare total cost of cultivation of wheat for the sample as whole was Rs. 37235.99 per hectare, gross return from wheat at overall level was Rs. 63861.60. The input-output relationship at overall size group was 1.76 at Cost 'C For the study resource use efficiency of wheat, Cobb-Douglas production function was used. In the overall group resources seed, plant protection and area were significant. Marginal value of product to factor cost ratio at overall group, in case of Human labour, bullock labour and seed was positive and more than one and in case of machine labour, fertilizer, manure, plant protection and area it was negative and less than one.