Parminder Kaur

Price Spread and Marketing Efficiency in the Marketing of Broilers in Ludhiana District of Punjab

The present study was conducted to examine the production and disposal pattern of broilers in Ludhiana district of Punjab, to estimate the marketing costs, margins and efficiency of different broiler marketing channels in the study area and to analyze the various problems associated with the marketing of broilers. The study brought out that the major marketing channels identified in the marketing of broilers in the study area were: Channel-I (Producer-Wholesaler-Retailer-Consumer) and Channel-II (Producer-Retailer-Consumer). The results revealed that, on an average, 58.33 per cent of the broiler farmers marketed their broilers exclusively through the wholesalers, whereas only 18.33 per cent farmers sold their broilers exclusively to the retailers and 23.33 per cent farmers sold their broilers both to the wholesalers as well as retailers. The retailers purchased only 12 per cent of the total marketable surplus of broilers directly from the farmers. The proportion of broilers sold by the farmers directly to the wholesalers was 88 per cent of the total produce sold. The producers share in consumers rupee in channel-I was found to be 74.38 per cent while the total price spread was 25.61 percent. In marketing channel-Il, the net share received by the producer was 80.60 per cent of the consumers rupee. Further, the marketing costs and margins in this channel were found to be 13.20 percent and 6.20 percent respectively.. Hence, total price spread wasl9.40 percent. The marketing efficiency in Channel-II (Produce-Retailer-Consumer) was found to be higher (4.16) as compared to Channel-I (Producer-Wholesaler-Retailer-Consumer) which was estimated to be 2.90. Since only one intermediary was involved in Channel-II where the producer farmer sold the broilers to the retailers, the marketing expenses were lower and hence the marketing efficiency was higher. Lack of regulated markets, Delay in payments and payments made in fractions, lack of producer associations and no appropriate price information were some of the problems faced by the broiler farmers. The broiler market is dominated by wholesalers, thus the farmers can be saved from exploitation by encouraging the group marketing, co-operative marketing, contract farming etc.

Status of the Piggery Sector in India-An Economic Analysis

The study has analysed the production and export performance of the piggery sub sector as well as the factors influencing pig meat exports from India. The composition of pig population has been found to be largely dominated by indigenous pigs however, over the years, the share of crossbred pigs showed a rising trend across different regions. The eastern region possessed the largest pig population while the western region registered meager numbers. The total pig population in India recorded negative growth rates for all the six censuses studied. The crossbred pig population registered higher but declining growth rates across the regions in the various censuses. The output of pig meat recorded negative growth during the pre-liberalization period while productivity growth was dismal and depicted a declining trend in the different states. The share of pig meat in total meat exports was found to be very minute (less than 1percent) in both value and quantity terms while the annual growth of pig meat exports in quantity terms was nonsignificant. Pig meat exports were also found to be highly unstable during the study period. The factors that influenced pig meat exports were institutional credit, government expenditure on animal husbandry, private investment in agriculture and Gross domestic product of the importing countries. The study has recommended continued replacement of indigenous pig with improved breeds to boost export surplus, expansion of credit to pig farmers to improve feeds and heath care and emphasis on finding regional markets for pig meat.

Sustainability of livestock sector in Punjab

Livestock sector is one of the most important and fastest growing agricultural subsectors in Punjab. Owing to the changing dynamics of the sector, present study was conducted to assess the sustainability of the sector in the state. The study was carried out for three agro-climatic zones (Zone-I, Zone-II, and Zone-II) for four periods (1997, 2003 and 2007, 2012). Sustainability was measured by developing an index quantifying the basic three pillar model of sustainability; social, economic and ecological dimensions. The results revealed that the sustainability of the state is increasing over the study period. The main reasons attributed are increase in highly productive stock with improvement in ecological externalities. Significant negative trade-off between livestock sustainability and economic sustainability and positive trade-off with ecological was observed. Three scenarios for development of the sector was postulated for three agro-climatic zones in the state. The sector is a viable option for promotion for sustainable income generation among agricultural subsectors in the state.

An analytical study of rural women entrepreneurship to enhance income in Punjab

In India, women constitute around 48 per cent of the population but their participation in the economic activities is only 34 per cent. In rural India, the male work participation rate (WPR) is 53 per cent while that for female is only 30 per cent indicating that female workforce remains unutilized. In rural Punjab the female WPR was only 18.7 per cent in 2001which further declined to 13.9 per cent during 2011 (the lowest in the country). An economy can move on to higher levels of growth through planned development by developing human resources to their brimming utilization. Women entrepreneurship has been recognized during the last decade as an important untapped source of economic growth. A total of one hundred and five respondents were selected for the study who had got trainings from KVK, Moga. The sample consisted of rural farm women/girls. Both primary as well as secondary data was used. There was a significant increase in the income of the respondents after entering the enterprise. Decrease in the value of Gini ratio from 0.63 to 0.36 shows that the income inequality between the entrepreneurs has increased after entering the enterprise. It was observed lack of finance to carry on business was mentioned as the major problem by the respondents (73.06 per cent) followed by other factors of marketing (67.11 per cent), social barriers (56.91 per cent), hesitation due to lack of risk bearing ability, un ability to make decisions independently, illiteracy (31.69 per cent) and forgetfulness (30.31 per cent). It is very true that rural entrepreneurship cannot be developed without proper training. Therefore, it is necessary to provide more training to rural women to enhance their entrepreneurial skill giving a path of success to rural women through Government institutes like KVKs. They need capacity building and training in functional areas such as finance, literacy skills, marketing, production and managerial skills. Entrepreneur network must be encouraged. Therefore government subsidies and credit facilities can help them for ball rolling of the new enterprises. Special credit cum debt account for the rural women can be started in local banks so that women can get better benefit of the various subsidies. There is a need for early dissemination of entrepreneurship education in the schools for timely exploration of entrepreneurial capabilities. Encouragement and assistance should be provided to rural entrepreneurs for setting up marketing co-operatives, and Self Help Groups to adopt collective approach.

Profitability Analysis of Major Crops in Punjab: Some Evidence from Cost of Cultivation Survey Data

During the past half century, the Punjab state achieved exemplary growth in food grain production. Consolidation of landholdings, reclamation of new agricultural lands, development of irrigation, use of biochemical inputs comprising high yielding variety seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides and mechanical inputs were among the important factors which helped agriculture in the state in making rapid strides The fast shift in the area from traditional diversified crops to mono-culture of rice wheat system was driven by forces such as price policy, technological change, market infrastructure and low cost of irrigation. The underground water is being used indiscriminately and due to over exploitation of water resource, the sustainability of existing crop systems is becoming doubtful creating critical second generation problem. Evidently, the state agriculture has reached at a stage of stagnation whereas the social cost is increasing due to environmental degradation. Though the economic evaluation of social cost is a cumbersome process, an attempt has been made to access the performance of different crops and cropping pattern in the state of Punjab using alternative scenarios like market prices, economic prices (without subsidies) and natural resource valuation (NRV) considering environmental benefits like biological nitrogen fixation and greenhouse gas costs. The results revealed that on the basis of market prices, basmati and paddy common generated net returns of 54289/ha and 45360/ha respectively as the net returns from other crops were less. The basmati remains the most remunerative crop with net returns of 41633/ha at economic prices and for paddy common net returns at economic prices were 33191/ha. The net returns from basmati and paddy common were estimated to be 33951/ha and 31733/ha on the basis of NRV. The results also brought out that alternative crops gave lower returns ascompared with paddy. The present set of marketing infrastructure and agricultural technological know-how, the rice-wheat cropping pattern is likely to produce the highest and more stable income. The sustainability of natural resources can be achieved only if same platform of technology-market-Govt. assurance for other alternative crops will be provided to the farmers Market incentives for other crops should be explored so that farmers could move away from thirsty crops such as rice.

Rapeseed and mustard cultivation in Bathinda district-An appraisal of productivity and profitability

An attempt has been made in this study (1) to estimate the costs and returns structure in the production of rapeseed and mustard (2) to ascertain the gaps in productivity of rapeseed and mustard at various levels i.e. at actual farm, state and district levels and and (3)to identify the constraints in the production of rapeseed and mustard and suggest measures for improving production and productivity of rapeseed and mustard in Bathinda district of Punjab. Primary data during 2015–16 were collected from 80 farmers comprised of 27 small, 47 medium and 6 large farmers from four villages of Talwandi Sabo and Sangat blocks of Bathinda district. The total fixed costs per acre were estimated to be Rs.7277.90, Rs.7312.94 and Rs.4974.27 while per acre total variable costs came out to be Rs.7612.87, Rs.7311.01 and Rs.7138.11 respectively on the small, medium and large farms. The returns over variable costs were found highest on large farms (Rs.15545.05) as compared to medium (Rs.12951.18) and small (Rs.11908.51) farms. Total cost per quintal of output was estimated to be the lowest on the large farms(Rs.2053.66) which might be due to operation of economies of scale. The per cent profit margin was estimated to be 23.72, 27.82 and 46.60 per cent on small, medium and large farms respectively. The results of productivity analysis showed that at overall the actual yield was found less than the yield of PAU recommended variety (PBR 357) by 3.50 quintal per acre. This gap could be narrowed down by making available better quality farm inputs, control of pesticides and insecticides, weed control and disease management. High cost of inputs, shortage of labour, non-availability of quality inputs particularly plant protection chemicals, incidence of pests and diseases were important production constraints and overcoming these constraints is critical for improving production and productivity of rapeseed and mustard in the district. Major avenues for future increase in rapeseed and mustard production are expected to come from enhancement in productivity of this crop. A combination of high yielding varieties and hybrids and efficient crop management needs to be adopted.

Diversifying cropping system through dairying in Punjab-an approach to sustain livelihood

The results revealed that out of total milch animals, the proportion of buffaloes was higher (53.75 percent) followed by crossbred cows (43.59 percent) and local cows (2.66 percent). The annual fixed cost was ‘16259.88, ‘36147.79 and ‘83919.24 on small, medium and large dairy farms respectively while the total variable cost was estimated to be ‘55570.22, ‘132778.95 and ‘272462.12 on the respective dairy farms. On an average, the percentage expenditure on feeds and fodders was observed to be about 93 percent of the total variable cost. The net returns of milk came out to be ‘8.35, ‘10.03 and ‘10.12 per litre on small, medium and large farms, respectively. The break-even output was 38.47, 29.95 and 31.95 percent of total output obtained on small, medium and large farms, respectively indicating that the break-even output was comparatively earlier on medium farms than on small and large farms. The major problems faced by the producers were shortage of quality breed animals, costly medicines, low price of milk, absence of good marketing network, etc. It seems desirable to address these problems so as to develop dairy farming on sound footing.

Role of infrastructure in development of agricultural marketing in Punjab

The present paper attempts to study the growth of market arrivals of wheat and paddy in the regulated markets of Punjab in relation to the increasing production potential of the state. An effort has also been made to examine the role of Punjab Mandi Board in creation of market infrastructure in Punjab and its likely effect on market arrivals. The results reveal that the production as well as procurement of both wheat and paddy have increased during the period 1980–2012 which may be attributed to the assured price under minimum support price programme and market development infrastructure facilities in the State. The correlates of paddy and wheat procurement with some of the production parameters and infrastructural facilities existing in the State clearly exhibit that these affect the volume of business directly or indirectly in the regulated markets. The Punjab Mandi Board has been established to guide supervise and control the market committees of the state for better and efficient marketing of farm produce. The Board not only creates market infrastructure but also provides financial assistance to the economically weak market committees of the state from Market Development Fund. Apart from construction of link roads and development of mandis, other supporting services such as grading of foods/vegetables, post harvesting scheme, grant to market committees, etc. also form part of the efforts made by Punjab Mandi Board for the development of market infrastructure in the State.