An Empirical Analysis of Socio-Economic Characteristics and Profitability of Potato Growers in Haryana, India

Abstract

The study aimed at demonstrating the socio-economic characteristics of potato farmers and variance in the production of potato in northern Haryana. It was based on an extensive filed survey with randomly drawn sample of 200 farmers. A multi-stage purposive sampling was used for selection of the blocks and villages in Kurukshetra and Yamuna Nagar districts of Haryana. The districts were selected on the basis of average triennium production of potato in last three years in Haryana. The research revealed that majority of farmers belonged to the age group ‘more than 40 - up to 50’ and 35.00 per cent of the respondents were having the potato cultivation experience between more than 10 - up to 15years. A family size of up to 5 members was observed for most of the farmers in the study area and 56.50 per cent of respondents among 200 respondent farmers belonged to the land holding of up to 5 acres. A lack of professional training regarding the cultivation of potato crop was observed among the respondent farmers. The overall average production in Haryana was observed 124.17 quintals of potato per acre of area. The gross income of the farmers on overall basis in Haryana was observed ₹ 155773.35 and net income was observed ₹ 76820.35 per acre of potato cultivation. B:C ratio was estimated to be 1:1.97 on overall basis in Haryana. The study suggests developing training facilities for the potato growers in the remote areas and it will help agriculture and allied sector especially agribusiness planners and farmers in determining various social as well as economic factors of potato production.