Economics of production and marketing of the commercial vegetables of District Budgam J&K

Abstract

Agriculture is one of the biggest strongholds of the economy of India as it is the source of livelihood of almost two thirds of the workforce of the country. Our country has a diversified soil and climate comprising several agro-ecological regions and provides opportunity to cultivate different crops and varieties of vegetables. Entrepreneurship is a source of innovation, job creation and economic growth and is pivotal to attract the young and the educated masses to become entrepreneur. Therefore, vegetable cultivation is an effective instrument for generating greater income per unit area, additional employment, provision of nutritive and pretentious diet. India is the second leading producer of vegetables in the world after China with an area of 10.35 million hectares and production of 191.77 million metric tonnes. On the basis of the research problem district Budgam of Jammu and Kashmir (U.T) had been purposively selected owing to the fact that it has the maximum area (4413.94 hectares) and production (129.7698 MT) of vegetables in Kashmir. Sub-division Chadoora was purposively selected for the study on the basis of maximum number of registered vegetable growers. The study revealed that The major marketing channel identified was Producer - Commission agent - Retailer - Consumer. The benefit cost ratio was 2.23 and the break-even quantity was 96.02 quintals per hectare in Cauliflower. The benefit cost ratio was 1.61 and the break-even quantity was 117.83 quintals per hectare in Knol-Khol.