Authors: Dr. Rajendran, T
INTRODUCTION
The small onion prices may be bringing tears to the consumers. But the farmers who are engaged in the cultivation of the crop in the Tirunelveli district are making a handsome profit this year as the prices have shot up to Rs. 40 to Rs. 45 a kg.
Small onion is a short-term crop. Its water requirement is modest when compared to paddy and sugarcane. Since cash crops like turmeric do not fetch good income. The return is good because the price remains high in the market, says Thiru. Duraimurugan [Mobile No: 078454 16243] farmer in Village of Kanmaniyapuram, Kadayanallur Taluk, Tirunelveli Distirct, who cultivated small onions in an acre of his land.
It is also important to conduct an economic analysis of small onion as way of study, which will help to improve the productivity of the farmers through appropriate policy interventions.
OBJECTIVES
Major objective of the study is to assess the economic analysis of small onion. In the very famous tool of Case Study, The specific objectives were:
i. to assess the economics of small onion; and
ii. to suggest the policy measures to improve productivity of small onion farmers.
METHODOLOGY
Let us see what’s happening in the actual situation in the field of economic cultivation for Small onion. The actual practices are done [Case Study] by Thiru. Duraimurugan, [Mobile No: 078454 16243] from Kanmaniyapuram, Kadayanallur Taluk, District of Tirunelveli.
PERIOD OF STUDY
The study was conducted during October, 2016
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The study is primarily based on the field level data collected through interviews and discussion with the farmers. Hence, the usual limitations resulting from the recall bias of the farmers apply to this study as well, further, this study was done in a specific agro-climatic region covering specific time period and hence the results should be carefully interpreted.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The following costs of operations in small onion were gathered and discussed very consciously. Let us see the actual cost of cultivation of small onion and make an attempt which factors of production is to be give more profit with maximization of productivity,
Table No: 1 Economics of Small of Onion [acre]
| S. No | Operations | Quantity [kg/lit/ Number/Hours] | Value [Rs] |
| 1 | i. Main field preparation Tractor ii. Ridges and furrows JCP | 3 3 | 3600 4200 |
| 2 | Seed rate [bulbs] Rs. 22/kg | 400 | 8800 |
| 3 | Sowing and Planting Rs. 150/female labour | 18 | 2700 |
| 4 | Irrigation | 3 | 450 |
| 5 | Manures and Fertilizers First time i. Basal application - DAP ii. N:P:K Second time N:P:K | 150 60:45:30 30:60:45 | 3150 1800 2250 |
| 6 | Weeding First time Second time | 12 18 | 1800 2700 |
| 7 | Plant protection i. Fertilizers Ammonium Sulphate:P:K ii. Thrips | 60:15:15 3 | 3000 6000 |
| 8 | Harvesting | 75 | 11250 |
| 9 | Transport Truck | 3 | 450 |
| 10 | Market Commission charge | 550 | |
| Total Cost | 52700 | ||
| 11 | Profit Rs. 10/kg | 6000 | 60000 |
| Benefit-Cost Ratio | 1:1.4 |
He has to modify their production pattern and verify the each cost component, which component to be minimize and which inputs might add to get higher profit with lower cost production,
SUGGESTIONS
- Normally rain brings cheers to farmers. But it does not shower blessings on small onion growers who face huge loss this season, owing to poor yield. Incessant rain in November-end did the maximum damage to standing onion crops on thousands of hectares in the district. Fog since mid-December too harmed the crop further.
- Onion growers feel the burden only when they attempted to harvest. Now, they harvest only 50 per cent of total yield they got in last season.
- Sharp slump in yield resulted in steep hike in prices of onion in whole sale market. But such price hike does not benefit them as it fails to meet their initial costs even.
- Most of the farmers in India sell their produce through village level markets, fairs, Mandies, Co-operative Societies, and directly through intermediaries like agents etc.
- In the above process of agricultural marketing, there may be possibility of middlemen exploit farmers as well as consumers. Consequently farmers has not get fair price and even not able to meet the cost of cultivation results in indebtedness.
- In order to eliminate the middlemen between farmers and consumers, government level intervention worked out by the policy makers in different state introduces the farmer market concept as an alternate to agricultural marketing. It is being known by different names like Uhavar santhai, buy-back segment, direct marketing etc.,
References:
1. Farm survey, 2016
2. Horticultural Crop Production Guide, 2013
About Author / Additional Info:
Working as Asst. Professor [Agrl. Economics] at Agrl. College and Research Institute, Killikulam, Vallanad - 628 252. Handling the UG, PG Courses and Guiding the PG Students.