Production and marketing of hybrid maize in Sarguja district of Chhattisgarh

A study was conducted to estimate cost and return, price spread, marketing efficiency, constraints in production and marketing of hybrid maize in Sarguja district of Chhattisgarh. A sample of eighty farmers was surveyed (fourty five marginal, twenty five small and ten large) by three stage stratified random sampling method. Three predominant marketing channels were producer →consumer, producer→villagetrader→consumer, producer→villagetrader→wholesaler→retailer→consumer. Regression analysis for different categories of farm holdings was carried out by using Cobb-Douglas type of production function considering variables like labour, seed, manure and fertilizer cost. The study revealed that large farmers received highest net income of Rs. 354.9/q followed by marginal farmers (Rs. 342.80/q) followed by small farmers (Rs. 315.73/q). Producer's share in consumer's rupees was highest in channel-I (96%) as compared to (83.7%) in channel-III. As number of intermediaries increased, marketing cost and margin increased and producer’ share in consumer's rupees decreased. Improvement of farm level efficiency relies on technical knowledge of crop as well as income diversification, institutional capacity building that can enhance assets ownership, extension and credit facility. Producer should sell their produce in wholesale market where competition among traders was keen in order to get highest price.