Jasdev SinghMishra, Yashi2023-12-112023-12-112022Mishra, Yashi (2022). Contract farming of floriculture in Punjab (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810202591The present study was undertaken to examine the status of floriculture, cost and return of flower seed cultivation under contract farming and problems faced by farmers and contracting agencies. To accomplish the objectives of the study, both primary and secondary data was collected. Primary data was collected from sample contracting firms and farmers through personal interview method. The results of the study revealed that area under floriculture and production of flowers in India and Punjab has increased significantly in past two and half decades. Area under contract system of flower cultivation (for seed production) accounted for about 15 percent of GCA on the sample farms. Results revealed that cultivation of flower crops for seed production is a highly labour-intensive and this component alone constituted 50 per cent of the total cost. Gross return received by respondent farmers from overall flower seed crops was Rs.81185 per acre and return over variable cost and return over total cost turns out to be 50.72 per cent (Rs.41178/acre) and 24.08 per cent (Rs.19551/acre), respectively. Though cost of cultivation of flower crops was significantly higher in comparison to alternative wheat crop but on account of higher gross return the flower crops yielded much higher return over variable cost (65.44%) than that obtained from wheat crop. High production risk, high cost of cultivation, high rejection rate of output, irregular payment and low contract prices were main problems faced by contract farmers. Major problems faced by contract firms include mixing of poor quality output by farmers, problematic behaviour of farmers and farmer‟s unwillingness to follow the prescribed practices. For large scale adoption of floriculture, strengthening of extension system, mechanization of cultural operations of floricultural crops and provision for crop insurance under contract were the measures suggested by study. In order to protect contract farmers against irregular payment and manipulation of terms by contract firms, written form of contract with provision for legal measures should be made compulsory.EnglishThesis