Abstract

Research Article

Economics of rice production under rice zone in Gorkha District, Nepal

Sandip Paudel, Sovit Parajuli, Bishal Mahatara, Srijan Budhathoki, and Rishi Ram Kattel

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

Corresponding author e-mail: mrsandippaudel@gmail.com

(Received: 19/12/2020; Revised: 20/05/2021; Accepted: 18/06/2021)

ABSTRACT

A research was conducted at the Gorkha district to access the economics of rice production. The Stratified Random Sampling technique was used in the research. Both primary and secondary data were used in this study. Altogether 120 respondents were surveyed. Data were analyzed using software like SPSS and MS-excel. The average rice cultivation area (spring and summer) was 0.47 hectare. Based on the average rice cultivation area, farmers were categorized into a smallholding (67 in number) and medium and large holding farmers (53 in number). The majority of the respondents were janajati and the majority of the household head had a primary level of education. The major cost of rice production was incurred in labor cost i.e., 75% compared to other inputs. The return from the rice was obtained from rice grains and straw with an overall contribution of 79.5% and 20.5% respectively. The BC ratio on average was found 1.28 while the BC ratio of the medium and large farmers was found higher than the small farmers, indicating rice production was profitable in the study area. Insect pests and diseases were found to be the most serious production problem among the several problems, with index value (I = 0.867). In short, rice cultivation is the primary priority among the farmers as it helps in food security. Hence it is recommended that the timely application of agricultural inputs, optimum utilization of input resources helps to foster rice production in those areas, consequently making it a more profitable occupation.

Keywords: BC ratio, Inputs, Problems.