Cost and Return Structure of Maize Production in North Karnataka

Maize is an important cereal of India and is grown over 4 per cent of the net area sown of the country. Unlike other crops maize can be cultivated with small capital. Uses of machines have reduced the labour requirements. Most of the maize grown is utilised within the country, although its limited international trade is also there. Present study throws a light on cost and return structure in maize production among different farm sizes i.e., marginal, small and medium farmers. Keeping in view the objectives of the study a multistage random sampling procedure has been adopted for the selection of the districts and sample respondents. The total sample size was 240. The primary data was collected from respondents through personal interview method using pre tested schedules. Keeping in view the objectives of the study the tabular presentation method with averages and percentages was used. Among the different category of farms the total variable cost incurred per acre by medium farmers was highest followed by small farmers and marginal farmers. The cost of human labour, fertilizer, FYM, seeds and bullock labour were the items of cost with major share in the variable costs. The average per acre cost of cultivation was Rs. 12532.78 in Dharwad district and Rs. 12529.38 in Haveri district and the average net returns were Rs. 7582.86 in Dharwad district and Rs. 7831.96 in Haveri district. Maize production in the study area found to be profitable as also supported by B: C Ratio of 1.42 to 1.50 among different categories of farmers.