Sachdeva, JatinderKawalpreet Kaur2018-01-182018-01-182017http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810039568The present study was conducted to examine the economics of production and marketing of pear cultivation in Punjab. A sample of 60 pear growers representing different size categories became the basis of present study. During the period 2000-01 to 2015-16, the area, production and productivity of pear in the state increased significantly with compound annual growth rate of 5.88, 9.50 and 3.42 per cent, respectively. On overall basis, establishment cost of pear orchards came to be Rs 28307 per hectare. The annual operational cost was low in the initial years and increased consistently during the subsequent years. Annual maintenance cost during first year of plantation was Rs 6285 per hectare which increased to Rs 33653 per hectare for 14 to 20 year old orchards. Manures and fertilizers, intercultural operations, plant protection measures and training and pruning were the major components of operational cost. Over the life period of pear orchards average annual cost, annual total returns and net annual returns were Rs 126353, Rs 185045 and Rs 58692 per hectare, respectively. It emerged out that net annual returns received by the sample pear growers were quite high when they sold the produce themselves in the market than sale through pre-harvest contractor. On overall basis, positive net present value, BCR greater than unity and IRR greater than discount rate indicated that pear cultivation was economically viable in the study area. However, benefit-cost ratio and IRR had direct relationship with the farm size indicating significant economies of scale. Thus, large and medium pear orchards were relatively more profitable than small farms. A comparison of price spread through different marketing channels revealed that producer’s share in consumer’s rupee was higher in channel-I (Producer → wholesaler (Commission agent) → Retailer → Consumer) as compared to channel-II (Producer →pre-harvest contractor→ wholesaler (Commission agent) → Retailer → Consumer. So, the marketing efficiency was higher in channel- I than in channel-II. Lack of skilled labour, poor quality of planting material and weak research and extension linkages emerged as the major production problems, while price fluctuations, lack of processing facilities and poor market infrastructure were the major marketing constraints confronted by pear growers of the study area. In order to promote the cultivation of this high value crop, these problems need to be addressed immediately through policy and institutional measures.ennullThesis