Profitability and productivity of potato (Solanum tuberosum) in Baglung district, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Potato is considered as staple food in Hill regions of Nepal. It is considered as a major crop (in cropping pattern) of the majority of the households in Bobang and Tara VDC of Baglung district. The potato produced in these VDCs has good market reputation and is the major source of income. There are very few research studies which have assessed the profitability of potato of these areas. So, this study was aimed to assess the profitability and productivity of potato in Baglung district of Nepal. Methods:Potato is the fourth most important crop after major cereals. The two VDCs (Bobang and Tara) under Baglung district were purposively selected. These VDCs are good in potato production as compared to others in the district. The pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Households were selected using simple random sampling techniques. The respondents were interviewed using face-face interview method in the month of April 2016. Altogether, 120 samples (60 from each VDC) were selected and the data were coded and entered in SPSS software. The necessary result was obtained by analyzing socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, benefit-cost ratio and production function using SPSS, Stata and Microsoft excel. Results:The average productivity was found 9.89 ton per hectare (ha) in the study area. The low productivity was due to disease infestation on crop. The per ha total cost of potato production was NRs. 197,186 with the total income of NRs. 268,047. The cost of FYM (45.32%) was highest followed by seed and human labor. The per hectare profit from potato production was NRs. 70,861 with B/C ratio of 1.44. An increase in 1% cost of human labor, seed and FYM would increase the total income of potato by 0.075, 0.639 and 0.190%, whereas 1% increase in the cost of bullock labor and intercultural operation would decrease income by 0.015 and 0.047%, respectively. The return to scale was found 0.842 which indicates decreasing return to the scale. Conclusion:The per ha total income from potato was found NRs. 268,047 with B/C ratio of 1.44 in the study area. The low production and productivity was due to infestation of disease on standing crop. Technical and managerial skills on cultivation practices and provision of technical knowledge to control diseases as well as proper allocation of inputs and available resources would help to increase profitability and productivity of potato. It is suggested to use diseaseresistant improved varieties and follow appropriate recommended cultural practices.

Profitability and resource use efficiency of potato cultivation in Munshiganj district of Bangladesh

“…Ahmed et al (2009) also carried out a research on the same and the research revealed that seed and pesticides had positive but TSP and MP had negative significant effect on gross return of potato production in Mymensing district of Bangladesh. Bajracharya and Sapkota (2017) also found human labor, seed, FYM, cost of bullock labor and intercultural operation having significant effect on total income of potato in Baglung district of Nepal where an increase in 1% cost of human labor, seed and FYM would increase the total income of potato by 0.075%, 0.639% and 0.190%, whereas 1% increase in the cost of bullock labor and intercultural operation would decrease income by 0.015% and 0.047%, respectively.…”

“…Scarcity of quality seed in sowing time is the major causes for higher seed cost and government intervention on fertilizer market by providing subsidy on fertilizer is the major cause for lower fertilizer cost of potato production. On the other hand Bajracharya and Sapkota (2017) found FYM constituted highest (45.32%) portion of the cost of production followed by seed and human labor in Baglung district of Nepal. …”

“…1,42,403 as gross return, gross cost and net return, respectively with undiscounted benefit-cost ratio 2.18 for potato production in some selected areas of Mymensingh district. On the other hand Bajracharya and Sapkota (2017) found the productivity 9.89 ton per hectare with per hectare profit of NRs.70,861 with BCR of 1.44 from potato production in Baglung district of Nepal. Moreover, Islam et al (2000) carried out a research on two production systems of potato TPS and traditional tuber technology and found variability in costs and returns for those two.…”

“…Efficiency and input use pattern varies with the socio-economic characteristics of farmer or manager (Islam et al, 2016). Technical and managerial skills on cultivation practices and provision of technical knowledge to control diseases as well as proper allocation of inputs and available resources would help to increase profitability and productivity of potato (Bajracharya and Sapkota, 2017). Several studies in other countries have shown that there is significant potential for raising agricultural output or profitability by improving productive (technical and allocative) efficiency using existing resources (Rahman, 2002).…”

“…Yadav et al (2015) worked on productivity, profitability and resource use efficiency of potato in India and found that potato based various cropping sequence differ significantly for most of the desirable parameters which influence the utilization of natural resources. Bajracharya and Sapkota (2017) conducted a research on profitability and productivity of potato (Solanum tuberosum) in Baglung district of Nepal and found the average productivity was 9.89 ton per hectare with per hectare total cost and total income of NRs. (Nepali rupees) 1,97,186 and NRs.…”