Economic Viability and Constraint Analysis of Mentha Growing in Punjab^§

The study has conducted benefit-cost analysis of mentha-growing in Punjab and various factors affecting its value productivity along with identification of constraints being confronted by this crop during its growing phase by collecting primary data from 100 mentha-growing farmers of different farm sizes. The benefit-cost ratio has been found to be 2.99 on overall basis with highest on large farms (3.47) due to higher price received by them because of deferred payment, followed by medium (2.86) and small (2.40) farms. The regression analysis has revealed that by making judicious use of expenses on suckers, diammonium phosphate, plant protection measures and hoeing, the value productivity of mentha can be further enhanced. The rainfall near maturity has been found the major limiting factor inhibiting mentha productivity significantly, while incidence of insect-pests has been reported to be a big biotic constraint by the mentha-growing farmers in Punjab. The study has stressed on the need of an insurance cover for mentha growers for mitigating crop losses due to adverse weather conditions, particularly near the harvesting stage and for providing price protection to check distress sale, especially by small resource-poor farmers.