An Analysis of Cost and Returns of Sugarcane Production in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the cost and returns of sugarcane production per acre on different size of farms in krishnagiri taluk of krishnagiri District in Tamilnadu. The study was confined to a sample of 175 sugarcane farmer household selected from seven villages of krishnagiri taluk of krishnagiri District. A simple percentage analysis was employed to identify the socio-economic characteristics and cost and returns of sugarcane cultivation for the selected sample farmers. The results of the study showed that out of the 175 sample sugarcane farmer selected for the study, the majority of them belonged to nuclear family; their family size had 2-4 members; their age had 40-60 years and had a small family monthly income of Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 30,000. The educational status of the farmers was secondary level. The study concluded that the majority of the sugarcane farmer's still employ low level of modern technology in sugarcane cultivation. Also, most of the sugarcane farmers are middle-aged, non-literate males; this had greatly contributed to inefficiency in sugarcane production among the sugarcane farmers. To this end, there is a need for continuous research in understanding the differences observed, which in this study concerns the magnitudes rather than conflicts. Further limitation of the study is that the data used as shown in the yield curves tend to fluctuate considerably. This mean that yield of sugarcane was influenced by climate and soil parameters.