A Study on Comparative Economics of Grain and Seed Production of Groundnut in Karnataka, India

The present study was based on primary data collected for 100 farmers from Chitradurga district of Karnataka during the agricultural year 2013-14. Tabular analysis and discriminant function analysis was used in the present study. The analysis of data reveals that human labour occupied the major share (27.07%) of total cost in seed production and bullock and machine labour occupied the major share (29.38%) of total cost in grain production of groundnut. The higher human labour requirement in seed production was mainly due to activities like rouging, gap filling etc. The variable cost was comparatively higher in seed production (Rs. 25745.0 per ha) over grain production (Rs. 20752.0 per ha). The total cost of cultivation in groundnut seed production was around 18% higher than grain production. The gross return was about 27% higher in seed production than grain production and net return from seed production of groundnut was 44% higher than grain production. The BC ratio was 1.73 in case of groundnut seed production as compared to 1.60 in grain production. The discriminant analysis indicated that human labour with 45.56% followed by gross return (35.83%), seed (17.50%), manures and fertilizers (0.69%), bullock and machine labour (0.42%) contributed to discriminate between the seed and grain production of groundnut. The net return from groundnut seed production was encouraging, therefore the area under seed production may be increased for higher profitability and timely supply of quality seed to the farmers.