Resource-use efficiency in production of Alphonso mango in the Sindhudurg district—An economic analysis

The resource-use efficiency in Alphonso mango production has been studied in the Sindhudurg district. The use of inputs has been found comparatively more on the farms near the seashore than those away from the seashore. The mango production has been found as 31.31q/ha at the overall level, 34.16 q/ha on farms in Group-I (near seashore) and 28.56 q/ha on farms in Group-II (away from seashore) with the value of Rs 92549, Rs 105229 and Rs 73519, respectively. The total cost of cultivation (cost-C) of adult mango orchard at the overall level has been worked out to be Rs 49491/ha. The itemwise cost of cultivation has been found substantially higher in Group-I than Group-II farms because of using higher quantities of almost all the inputs by the former group. The benefit cost ratio has been found as 1.87 at the overall level, 1.92 for Group-I and 1.71 for Group-II. The total cost of cultivation has been found more on farms in Group-I (Rs 1605/q) than Group-II (Rs 1502/q), whereas it was Rs 1580/q at the overall level. The analysis of resource-use efficiency has revealed that the investment in mango plantation is more remunerative near the seashore than away from the seashore and there is a large scope in monitoring the use of the majority of inputs in both the groups. The farmers have been found using more of labour and less of insecticides. It has been suggested that the mango growers should use the recommended doses of these inputs to increase the profit. The major problems in mango production have been identified as high cost of inputs (91.67%), followed by high cost of transportation (74.17%), heavy incidence of pests and diseases (68.33%), lack of technical guidance (60%), high market charges (56%) and lack of market information (54%). An unfavourable climatic condition during the peak season has been reported as a severe problem by many farmers during the recent past.