ECONOMICS OF CULTIVATION OF SMALL MILLETS FOR MEETING FOOD, NUTRITION, FODDER SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE WAKE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
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Date
2019-11-28
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UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES GKVK, BENGALURU
Abstract
The present study endeavoured to estimate the small millets economics, their impact on
food, nutrition and health security, existing processing and marketing facilities and
constraints in production and consumption of small millets in Central Dry Zone of
Karnataka during 2016-17. The study was taken up in Chitradurga and Tumkur districts.
The data was collected from a sample of 120 farmers, 10 primary processors and 30
households each from rural and urban small millets consumers. The compiled
information was analyzed using different statistical and econometric methodology. The
results showed that over the years the area under small millets has been declining trend
and high instability was observed in both area and production. The average area devoted
for small millets cultivation is 0.84 acre. The per acre cost of cultivation of small millets
worked out to be around Rs. 9833 to Rs. 12080, while per quintal cost of production is
around Rs. 2166 to Rs. 2840. Gross returns realized from small millets cultivation is
ranges from Rs. 14192 to Rs. 20220 per acre. Returns per rupee of expenditure worked
out to be more than one (ranges from Rs. 1.37 to Rs. 1.64) for all small millets indicating
the profitability of small millets cultivation in rainfed area. About 67 per cent in urban
and 30 per cent of consumers in rural area felt that small millets consumption helped in
maintaining blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. Therefore, there is need to expand
area and increase production of small millets by increasing productivity. Hence,
Government should invest in developing high yielding verities and provide price support
in the form of Minimum Support Price to increase demand thereby increases the area
under small millets.