Economic Analysis of Pulses in Maharashtra

This study has examined regionwise land-use, cropping pattern, resource use, costs and return structure in Maharashtra based on the primary data collected during the year 2013–14 from 600 farm families (201 chick pea, 168 pigeon pea, 92 green gram and 33 black gram) selected under the Comprehensive Scheme, MPKV, Rahuri. The study has revealed that cash crops (sugarcane, onion and cotton) occupy highest area (27.5%) of the gross cropped area, followed by cereals (27.2%) and pulses (15.2%). The cropping intensity is lowest in Konkan region (56.6%) and highest in Vidarbha region (142.6%) with an average of 118 per cent at the state level. At the overall level, the per hectare input-use of human labour was highest for pigeon pea, followed by black gram, green gram and chick pea. The use of machine labour was highest in pigeon pea. The manure-use was observed low in pulse crops in all the regions of Maharashtra. At the overall level, the productivity of chickpea, pigeon pea, green gram and black gram was found to be 15.21 q/ha, 15.03 q/ha, 4.38 q/ha and 7.76 q/ha, respectively.