aCentral Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair - 744 101, A&N Islands
bDivision of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110 012
cDirectorate of Wheat Research, Karnal -132 001, Haryana
*Author for correspondence Email: ajmerskundu@gmail.com
§The paper has been drawn from the project “Economic analysis and impact assessment” which formed a part of larger thematic programme “Technology transfer, refinement and impact assessment”, DWR/RP/04/11.2 and DWR/RP/07/12.2.
The paper has explored the possibilities of expanding cultivation of wheat in the Southern Hills Zone of India by examining the economics of improved wheat varieties demonstrated through front line demonstrations (FLDs) so as to provide a basis for their adoption and dissemination in farmers’ fields. The average cost of cultivation of improved wheat varieties was higher by about 10 per cent over their traditional counterparts due to higher application of inputs and higher price of improved seeds, their unit cost of production was about half of that of the traditional varieties. The economic feasibility of cultivation of wheat in Southern Hills Zone, judged in terms of net returns, has revealed that while cultivation of traditional varieties is not profitable, improved varieties generate significant returns over investment.
Wheat, economic feasibility, southern hills zone
