Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Profitability of Lentil Cultivation in Some Selected Sites of Bangladesh

M. A. Matin
Chief Scientific Officer
Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Q. M. S. Islam
Principal Scientific Officer
Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

S. Huque
Scientific Officer
Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study estimated the profitability, farm specific technical efficiency of lentil growers and measured the impacts of different factors associated with technical efficiency of lentil farmers. The study employed farm level cross sectional data from three lentil growing districts namely Jessore, Meherpur and Natore of Bangladesh. The study revealed that HYV lentil is profitable than local variety. Cost of human labour, organic fertilizer, TSP, MoP and irrigation cost were found to contribute significantly in the efficiency of lentil farmers. The average technical efficiency of lentil growers in Bangladesh is 64 percent. This indicates a good potential for increasing lentil output by 36 percent with the existing technology and level of inputs. Farmers’ educations and training have positive significant effect on yield and efficiency of lentil production. Farmers faced some problems like disease infestation, lack of storage facilities, lack of knowledge, untimely rainfall, high price of input and unavailability of HYV seed. Therefore, researchers should develop integrated pest, disease and insect management schedule which are environment friendly and ecologically sound. Good quality seeds of lentil should be made available locally to the farmers at a reasonable price.

Keywords: Profitability, Lentil, Technical efficiency

Location: Jessore, Meherpur and Natore districts

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Lentil

Objectives:

1.   to know the input use pattern in lentil cultivation;
2.   to estimate the profitability of the lentil cultivation and
3.   to estimate the technical efficiency of lentil growers.

Methodology:

a) Sampling technique: Jessore, Meherpur and Natore districts were selected purposively as the study areas because these districts are leading lentil producing areas of Bangladesh. From each district, three upazilas namely Lalpur, Natore Sadar, and Baraigram from Natore and Bagarpara, Chougacha and Jhekorgacha from Jessore and Meherpur Sadar, Mujibnagor and Gangni from Meherpur were purposively selected on the basis of intensive lentil cultivation respectively. From each upazila one village under one block was selected with the help of knowledgeable persons and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) personnel. A complete list of all lentil growers from the selected villages was prepared with the help of extension personnel. From the list, 180 farmers from each district were selected randomly taking 60 farmers from each upazila.
b) Method of data collection: Data were randomly collected from improved and local variety growers. A total of 540 farmers were selected for the study using simple random sampling technique. Secondary data were collected from relevant upazilas, and statistical bulletin. Data were collected by the experienced field investigators with direct supervision of the researchers using a pre-tested interview schedule.

Analytical Technique
Empirical Cobb-Douglas frontier production function model
The Cobb-Douglas production function is used for functional analysis of the data. It is the most widely used form for fitting agricultural production data, because of its mathematical properties, ease of interpretation and computational simplicity. It is a homogeneous function that provides a scale factor enabling one to measure the return to scale and to interpret the elasticity coefficient with relative ease. It is also relatively easy to estimate because in logarithmic form it is linear and parsimonious (Beattic and Taylor, 1985). Thus Cobb-Douglas specification provides an adequate representation of the agricultural production technology.

Profitability analysis of lentil
An attempt was made to estimate the detailed cost and return, relative profitability, resource use efficiency. The financial profitability of improved lentil production over their traditional varieties was calculated using simple accounting procedures. Hence, data relating to input use for the production of lentil and their market prices were collected. Besides, data on outputs and their prices were also gathered for the study. Finally, the cost and return of improved pulse variety were compared with the respective cost and return of local pulse variety.
For calculating per hectare cost of lentil cultivation, all variable costs like human labour, land preparation, seed, manure, fertilizers, insecticides, irrigation and interest on operating capital were considered. The fixed cost of lentil cultivation included cost of land use and family labour. The land use cost was calculated on the basis of lease value of land. Finally cost was determined by adding fixed cost and variable cost.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 43(1): 135-147, March 2018 ISSN 0258-7122 (Print), 2408-8293 (Online)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Farm level input use varied significantly from area to area. This might be due to the knowledge gap among the lentil growers. The average technical efficiency of lentil growers is found 64 percent. This indicates a good potential for increasing lentil output by 36 percent with the existing technology and level of inputs used. Farmers’ educations and training have positive significant effect on yield and efficiency of lentil production. Improved varieties of lentil cultivation increase yield as well as highly profitable to the farmers. But infestation of insects like aphid, and diseases (stemphyllium blight, foot rot) is a common constraint in lentil cultivation. Short duration and stress tolerant improved lentil varieties are pre-requisites for expanding the cultivation throughout the country. Therefore, continuous effort should be given by the breeders for developing high yielding lentil varieties. And also researchers should develop integrated pest, disease and insect management schedule which are environment friendly and ecologically sound. Farmers training on lentil production should be needed and also extension works should be strengthen on lentil cultivation. Therefore, Government may provide more subsidies on the production and distribution of these important inputs, and make them available at local markets with reasonable price.

Knowledge Management: Journal