Economics and Profitability Analysis of Chip Grade Potato in Pune District of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The present investigation is carried out in Pune district of Maharashtra state. Keeping in view the highest acreages under potato, Ambegaon and Khed tahsils from Pune district were purposively selected. From these two tahsils 6 villages were selected purposively on the basis of area under chip grade potato cultivation. Also, from each village 15 sample growers were selected randomly i.e. small (Up to 0.20 ha), medium (0.21 to 0.40 ha) and large (0.41 ha and above). Thus, final sample comprised of 90 potato growers. The primary data collected for the agriculture year 2023-24 were analysed by using simple tabular approach and also functional analysis method. At overall level per hectare cost of cultivation of potato was ₹ 2,70,047.73. The per hectare cost of cultivation was highest ₹ 2,72,344.88 in small size group followed by large size group ₹ 2,70,176.29 and medium size group ₹ 2,67,622.02. Potato is a profitable tuber crop with overall B:C ratio of 1.63. For large size group per unit cost was minimum. Hence, the large land holding cultivators were more profitable than small land holding cultivators. In the cost structure of potato grown for processing (chips potato), seed cost dominates the expenditure pattern, forming around one-fourth (25.11 per cent) of the total production cost. Efficient agricultural marketing is not only essential for enhancing farm income and consumer satisfaction, but it also plays a vital role in stimulating overall economic development. According to financial indicators, the investment in potato cultivation has proven to be economically viable.