SUMMARY :The present paper attempts to identify cropping pattern and input utilization pattern of major crops on small farms. A multi-stage random sampling method followed by a farm survey with structured interview schedule. For personal interview a total of 60 respondent farmers being selected, this revealed that the cropping pattern of selected farms was dominated by Kharif crops with an area of 1.47 ha. and cropping intensity was 126.06 per cent. The Inputs utilization for various crops at overall level showed that per hectare utilization of human (166.3 man days) and bullock (31.98 pair days) labour were highest in case of sugarcane crop. Utilization of machine labour was highest for Rabi jowar crop (3.05 hours). Seed utilization per hectare for crops was as per recommendations. Regarding manures, highest quantity was used for sugarcane crop (31.96 q/ ha). Analysis of per hectare total cost of cultivation of different crops showed that maximum cost was incurred in sugarcane (Rs. 85247.88) followed by cotton (Rs. 42563.09). Per hectare total returns from sugarcane was the highest (Rs. 154678.50) followed by cotton (Rs. 80821.50). Regarding the profitability of crop enterprise, cotton was most profitable crop as its input-output ratio was 1.89 followed by sugarcane (1.81).
SUMMARY :This paper aims to examine and study the entrepreneurship skills of the tribal women involved in NTFP collection and marketing in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. Bastar district is endowed with dense forest covering 75.54% of the total area with abundant resource of economically important non-timber forest products. 80% NTFPs gatherers are women and out of those 55% women belongs to age group of 18-30 years, and 53% of the women were illiterates in the study area. The average labour days involved in the collection was 134.33 per annum per household and 68.23% women were involved in collection followed by men and children at 19.29% and 12.48% respectively. On an average Rs. 20258.69 per household per annum were generated through the selling of NTFPs, which is majorly contributed by women collectors with 65.62 per cent followed by 23.01 and 11.37 per cent by male and children collectors respectively. The labour employment indicated that 80.85 per cent women were involved in processing of NTFPs and only 19.15 per cent men were contributing them. The contribution of women in marketing of NTFPs in contrarily less and they sell only 27.56 per cent and rest 72.44 per cent are sold by men. The profit margin obtained after processing is 53.79% instead of selling unprocessed is only 44.25%. On an average the highest profit margin after reducing the processing cost gained through Kalmegh with 65.40 per cent followed by Cashew nut, Tamarind, Tikhur, Chironjee and Mahua with 51.26, 44.71, 42.23, 32.75, and 29.79 per cent respectively. Although the scenario looks satisfactory but still there is scope because the producer's share in consumer rupee is very less ranging from 53-54 per cent, which may rise upto 85-95%, if proper guidance and training provided to enhance women's marketing skill to grow their cottage industries and at the same time teaching them time-saving and sustainable methods to harvest NTFPs which also may protect the ecosystem.
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