ISSN: 2578-4986
Authors: Devi G*, Shaikh AS and Saran PL
Objective: To study the level of input use in colocasia production, estimate the cost and return and disposable pattern. Colocasia herb is rich source of phenols, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, sterols and triterpenoids, therefore, used as traditional medicaments. Farmers cultivate this multi cut crop only for leaf production in middle Gujarat. Methods: This leafy crop production mainly depends upon the level of input used. Hence, the use of judicious inputs (nutritional and irrigation) in production process is vital in this multi cut crop cultivation. Results: Average gross return (Rs. 486454.45 ha-1) and net return (Rs. 293452.22 ha-1) were obtained by producers. Price received by farmers at field level was Rs. 2309.20 q-1 and the cost of production (Rs./q) of colocasia was the tune of Rs. 1020.20. This indicated that price received by producers was higher as compared to the cost incurred by them. The total marketing cost incurred by all the middlemen in the identified channel was about Rs. 844.77 q-1. Out of which the highest cost was incurred by village trader followed by retailer, wholesaler cum commission agent and farmer. Average total margin earned by different functionaries was Rs. 3969.39 q-1 and the margin was higher at retailers’ level (Rs. 2182.50 q-1) as compared to village trader (Rs. 1245.23) and wholesaler-cum-commission agents (Rs 541.66 q-1). The producer’s share in consumer’s rupee was quite low (32.35 per cent) and the price spread was Rs. 4814.16 q-1 in the identified marketing channel of colocasia in study area. Conclusion: Overall, colocasia is the remunerative crop for the farmers and needs to shorten the marketing channel.
Keywords: Colocasia; Input use; Cost and Return; Disposable Pattern
