Sorghum (Fodder) Cultivation in Punjab — An Economic Analysis^§

The study has estimated the economics of production, processing and marketing of sorghum for fodder in Punjab. Sorghum is an important fodder crop during kharif season accounting for about one-fourth of the total fodder area in the state. The total variable cost for sorghum has been found to be 11946/ha and more than 60 per cent of it is being accounted for human labour. During the kharif season, paddy is the main competing crop with sorghum and the returns over variable cost from paddy are more than double of the returns from sorghum. More than 60 per cent volume of the total produce is directly sold to the forwarding/commission agent. Silage method of processing is practised during the kharif season by only less than 5 per cent fodder growers in the state. Supply of poor quality and un-recommended varieties of seed, shortage of labour especially for harvesting, lack of technical knowledge, low price, lack of market information and delayed payment for the produce by the commission agents have been identified as the major problems being faced by the sorghum fodder growers. The study has emphasized on the need of evolving high-yielding varieties, provision of short-term credit facilities, effective extension programme, establishment of regulated markets and popularization of processing of various fodder crops for broadening the base of fodder cultivation in the state.