Browsing by Author "Mudoi, Pranjal Protim"
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ThesisItem Open Access A STUDY ON THE ECONOMICS OF MILLET PRODUCTION IN ASSAM(2023) Mudoi, Pranjal Protim; Deka, NiveditaThe miracle grains millet is now a globally popular crop because of its numerous benefits. Millet plays a crucial role in the lives of millions of resource-poor farmers in India, serving as a significant source of food and fodder. Its contribution is vital to the country's ecological and economic stability. Millets offer compelling reasons for farmers to cultivate them and for consumers to choose them over other cereals. Millet can thrive in rainfed conditions and adapt well to various ecological environments. Millets demonstrate remarkable resilience to rising temperatures and droughts, requiring only 28 percent of the water needed for paddy cultivation. Their ability to grow in marginal land with minimal inputs makes them agriculturally superior to other commercial crops. Compared to other cereals, millets boast a superior micronutrient profile. Studies indicate that millets contain 20 percent less carbohydrates than rice and wheat, making them an excellent option for health-conscious individuals. Recent research highlights millets as a rich source of protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamins, effectively addressing deficiencies in iron, zinc, and protein. The primary objective of this study was to assess the status of millet cultivation in the state of Assam and analyse its cost, returns, and resource utilization efficiency. Additionally, the research examined the challenges related to millet production and marketing, while also exploring the potential opportunities for the crop's future in the region. The research took place in the Gossigaon sub-division of Kokrajhar district, involving 120 millet farmers. The study revealed a positive and statistically significant growth in millet cultivation in Assam between 2007-08 and 2020-21, as indicated by an increase in the area (0.949), production (1.09), and productivity (2.118 ***). This outcome highlights the considerable potential of millet cultivation in the state. Total cost of cultivation of Millet for Group I, Group II and Group III was found to be Rs 27013.95/ha, Rs 30589.30/ha and Rs 31234.63/ha respectively and Human labour constitute highest to the total cost. For all groups of farms, the Return over Variable Cost was determined to be 1.83, 1.92, and 1.99, respectively. This indicates that the crop is currently profitable at its existing level, with the potential to be significantly enhanced in terms of profitability. The functional analysis demonstrated that the coefficient of multiple determination (R2) for Group I, Group II, and Group III farmers were 0.83, 0.85, and 0.95, respectively. These values indicate that the variables considered in the production function accounted for approximately 83%, 85%, and 95% of the variations observed in the production process. Further the MVP to MFC ratio for groups were greater than unity indicating that farmers have opportunities to increase the production by using more resources. However, there are certain problems related with millet production such as lack of technical know-how among the farmers, high labour requirement for post-harvest operation, lack of proper market etc. Awareness drive on the benefits of millet consumption and production and training on adoption of recommended practices would help in popularising millet in the state.