An economic investigation of sugarcane production, processing and marketing: A case study of Fulbaria Upazila at Mymensingh district

Abstract

Fulbaria is an Upazila (with 402.41 km2 land area) at Mymensingh District. Here agriculture is the main source of income. It is famous for sugarcane production and processing. Here many farmers produce sugarcane and process it to make red sugar, which is unique in Bangladesh. Sugarcane is an important crop worldwide due to its many nutritional and economic uses. The aim of our study is to examine the profitability of sugarcane cultivation in Fulbaria Upazila at Mymensingh District of Bangladesh. Main objectives of the study were to explore profitability of sugarcane cultivation in study area, production and processing of sugarcane, factors affecting sugarcane cultivation and constraints of sugarcane cultivation in this area. Data were randomly collected from 90 farmers. A well-structured questionnaire was used for collecting data. We have used both descriptive and functional analyses in this study. Per hectare cost of sugarcane cultivation in this area was Tk. 245970. Net return was Tk. 174030 in the study area. Average BCR was 1.70.So sugarcane cultivation is a significant farm business in our study area. Human labor, irrigation, insecticides cost, transportation, and seed cost were positively significant but fertilizer was negatively significant on gross return in the study area. But farmers face various problems like lack of capital, processing industry or factory or mill, storage of sugar, marketing, natural calamities etc. This study will try to analyse economic significance of sugarcane production and solutions for specific problems. And will provide recommendations for improving the condition of sugarcane production and processing by using modern technology.