Production and marketing of under utilized millets in Karnataka an economic analysis

Abstract

Small millets are one among the traditional group of cereal crops and are cultivated in newlineareas where they produce a more dependable harvest compared to any other crops. The newlinepresent study is an effort in this direction to study all aspects of production and marketing of newlineunderutilized millets. The growth in savi area was negative and significant for both sample newlinedistrict (-1.934%) and the state (-5.620%) as a whole. Accordingly the production of savi also newlineshowed declining trend for both the sample districts and state. The state as a whole, the newlinegrowth rates of foxtail millet area (-8.922%) and production (-8.462%) showed significant newlinedeclining trend, while growth rate of foxtail millet productivity (0.396%) was found to be newlinepositive and statistically significant. The per hectare total cost of cultivation of little millet and newlinefoxtail millet worked out to be Rs. 7236.92 and Rs. 6587.22, respectively. Gross returns newlinerealized from one hectare of savi and foxtail millet grown by the sample farmers were Rs. newline8442.96 and Rs. 7350.00, respectively. Allocative efficiency was 41.35 per cent, technical newlineefficiency was 62.45 per cent for little millet sample farmers and thus the economic efficiency newlinewas 25.82 per cent. Technical efficiency (70.67%) and allocative efficiency (31.45%) achieved newlineby foxtail millet sample farmers resulted in economic efficiency of 22.23 per cent.. The share newlineof producer seller of little millet in the consumer s rupee was 82.42 percent while in channel III newlineand IV, it was 28.49 per cent and 28.44 per cent respectively. The producer s share in newlineconsumer s rupee of foxtail millet was 77.87 per cent in channel I and II, whereas in channel newlineIII and IV, it was 31.21 per cent and 28.03 per cent respectively. The study suggested that the newlinefarmers can better utilize their marginal lands by cultivating little millet and foxtail millet on newlinethem. newline