Artha Vijnana: Journal of The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics

Sangeeta Shroff ¹, Jayanti Kajale ¹

Affiliations
1 Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune 411004, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Understanding the magnitude of marketable and marketed surplus and the variables affecting are of great importance in the development of sound policies with respect to agricultural marketing, pricing and distribution of important agricultural commodities, imports and exports and overall rural and economic development.

The Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI) had been conducting surveys on marketing of agricultural commodities since its inception. However, with commercialization of agriculture leading to changes in the level of production over the decades, these surveys have become obsolete and needed to be revisited.

The fresh survey dealt with three crops in Maharashtra, namely tur, gram and maize and observed that marketable surplus is greater than marketed surplus which indicates that the farmers are retaining some surplus produce. Retention in case of tur was 14.86 per cent for sample farmers, while in case of gram it was 9.55 per cent. Maize was grown mainly for commercial purposes. The study also observes that maximum production losses are during harvesting, perhaps since farmers still use manual method.

Bottlenecks in production and marketing must be addressed and postharvest losses minimized so that marketed surplus can increase.

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Jayanti Kajale ¹, Sangeeta Shroff ¹

Affiliations
1 Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune 411004, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Maharashtra is one of the major soybean producing states of India. The crop occupies a dominant position in the cropping pattern of the state. This paper analyses trends and pattern of growth of soybean over time and across districts of Maharashtra. It calculates profitability of soybean and its competing crops, and discusses major problems/ constraints facing the soybean cultivators. The analysis of the secondary data reveals slowdown in the overall growth in case of soybean at the state and district level in the post 2000 period. The major factor for this seems to be the lower area under irrigation in case of this crop. The analysis of the field level information reveals relative profitability of soybean cultivation. Though the farmers are more concerned about the economic constraints relating to prices, the technological factors (relating to quality and availability of inputs) are also important for increasing yield and total production. In view of the increasing demand for edible oil, increasing reliance on imports to satisfy the domestic demand and for limits to area expansion, it is important to sustain the current level of production of soybean. Provision of irrigation and other quality inputs such as seeds and support from a strong extension machinery may lead to an increase in the yield and reduce the yield gap, especially in the case of marginal farmers and arrest slowdown in the soybean sector.

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Jayanti Kajale ¹

Affiliations
1 Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune 411004, IN

Abstract

The Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA) Scheme was one of the major centrally sponsored schemes formulated by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in 2000-2001. This paper evaluates the impact of three schemes under MMA that are implemented in Maharashtra ‒ Integrated Cereal Development Programme, Sustainable Development of Sugarcane-based Cropping System, and Integrated Pest Management under Balanced Integrated use of Fertilizers. There has been an increase in net income as well as yield of generally all the sample farmers as compared to the earlier years. The study however underlines the need for strengthening the extension machinery of the government to improve the outreach of the extension officers and for proper training of the resource persons. It is important to provide basic infrastructure to the farmers which will help them in reaping the benefits of the schemes.

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Jayanti Kajale ¹

Affiliations
1 Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune, IN

Abstract

Agricultural sector in India, after the phase of Green Revolution, is again witnessing major policy changes under the environment of liberalisation and globalisation. In the wake of arguments for and against these measures, it can not be denied that fovourable benefits of the policy measures are likely to benefit primarily and initially (at least in the short run) the prime segments of the sectors/markets/the economy in general. In this case, attention needs to be focused on the large population of agricultural labourers and their current socio-economic status.

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Sangeeta Shroff ¹, Jayanti Kajale ¹, Prashant Bansode ¹

Affiliations
1 Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune 411004, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Maharashtra is leading in suicide among farmers. Its incidence is concentrated in the vulnerable regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada. While the number of suicides per lakh hectare of net sown area is 26.35 in Vidarbha and Marathwada, the corresponding figure for the rest of Maharashtra is 7.25. Primary data collected from these two regions indicated that soyabean and cotton were the major crops of sample households where there was an instance of suicide and together constituted 62.78 per cent of their gross cropped area. Looking across all crops, the net returns to farmers were negative to the tune of ` 27,301 per acre and `32,716 per household indicating that farming is an unviable economic activity. Crop failures due to droughts year after year coupled with low prices make farmers defaulters in the credit market and a vicious cycle is perpetuated. The study concludes that Marathwada is a water stressed region with many districts receiving even less than half the normal rainfall. Therefore, top priority must be given to watershed strategies, besides promoting water saving technologies.

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Jayanti Kajale ¹, Sangeeta Shroff ¹

Affiliations
1 Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune 411004, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

In May 2015, Government of India made it mandatory for indigenous producers of urea to produce 100 per cent of their total production of subsidized urea as neem coated urea (NCU) as well as to neem coat the imported urea. The policy was expected to increase use efficiency of urea and reduce volume of fertiliser subsidies. The paper studies usage of NCU and its impact on yields of sugarcane and tur, and the feasibility of NCU usage in Maharashtra. It also studies perception of the farmers about quality of NCU and the problems encountered during its usage. The analysis revealed that the application of NCU had positive impact on returns of the farmers and they were satisfied with its quality. The policy implications include creating awareness about NCU and ensuring its timely availability. Training camps need to be organized so that the farmers given suggestions for judicious fertiliser usage.

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