Economic analysis of sustainable farming practice: A study of maize and common bean intercropping system under North-Western Himalayas of India

Abstract

An economic analysis of maize and common bean intercropping during 2015-16 was carried out in Bhaderwah and Bhalla blocks of Doda district of J&K state which falls under North-Western Himalayas of India. A sample of 100 farmers was drawn for the present study using multistage sampling technique. Primary data were used to analyze the results which revealed that per hectare cost of cultivation of maize and common bean intercropping on overall farms was Rs. 45682.73. On marginal, small and medium farms, it showed a direct relationship with the farm size and was worked out to be Rs. 44910.16, Rs. 47434.64 and Rs. 49235.79 per hectare, respectively. On overall farms, per hectare cost-A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 and D was worked out to be Rs. 23698.48, Rs. 24072.03, Rs. 24974.50, Rs. 36855.82, Rs. 31891.13, Rs. 43772.45 and Rs.45682.73, respectively. On an average, gross returns from maize and common bean intercropping were worked out to be Rs. 98145.26/ha with net returns of Rs. 52462.53 and benefit cost ratio of 2.15 indicating that maize and common bean intercropping is very much profitable sustainable farming practice in the study area and one rupee spent on maize and common bean intercropping would yield more than double returns of Rs. 2.15. High cost of labour, non-availability of plant protection chemicals in the market, high cost of inputs and weak research- extension farmer linkage were some major constraints associated with maize and common bean intercropping in the study area.