Guledagudda, S.S.Paled, Manjunatha2021-12-292021-12-292017-06https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810180119Contract farming is an agreement between farmers and companies for the production and supply of agricultural products under forward agreements at pre-determined prices. The present study was conducted in Haveri and Koppal districts of Northern Karnataka. A sample of 128 farmers practicing hybrid seed production in brinjal, cucumber, chilli and water melon was selected randomly. The data were collected for the agricultural year 2015-16 through personal interview method. The data was analyzed through Cobb-Douglas production function. The results revealed that per acre cost incurred in brinjal, cucumber, chilli and water melon were 2,30,771, 2,02,044, 2,27,103 and 67,110 respectively. Per acre gross returns obtained in brinjal, cucumber, chilli and water melon were found to be 4,47,884, 4,29,728, 6,06,431 and 1,14,859 respectively. Net returns were found to be 2,17,113, 2,27,684, 3,79,328 and 47,749 in brinjal, cucumber, chilli and water melon respectively. Results revealed that human labour (1.71) was significant at one per cent, seedlings (0.26) and irrigation (0.10) was significant at five per cent in brinjal. In cucumber, only human labour (3.80) and PPC (0.76) were found to be significant at one per cent level. In chilli, only PPC (0.64) was significant at five per cent level. In water melon, human labour (0.81) was significant at one per cent level, bullock and machine labour (0.45), irrigation (0.86) and FYM (-0.11) were significant at five per cent level. The coefficient of multiple determination (R2) for brinjal, cucumber, chilli and water melon were 0.88, 0.91, 0.85 and 0.86 respectively. Returns to scale were 2.26, 4.59, 1.83 and 1.43 respectively for brinjal, cucumber, chilli and water melon. Influence of company staff was the major factor in introducing farmers to the seed production. Written agreement was followed in contract seed production. Farmers had frequent contact by company personnel. Scarcity of skilled labour was the major problem faced by the farmers.EnglishThesis