Resource use efficiency and constraint analysis of mango cultivation in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh

The present study has been designed to investigate the resource use efficiency and problems of mango growers. A sample of 80 farmers cultivating mango was selected using multistage simple random sampling. Area under mango increased at a rate of 1 per cent per annum, but productivity has shown negative growth during this period (2003–04 to 2018–19), indicating poor management of mango orchards in the state. The cropping intensity was 126.59 per cent, which is low due to the greater area under mango plantation. The coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.94 which indicated that 94.00 per cent variation in mango production. The ratio of MVP/MFC was greater than unity, which indicated that the resource is being under-utilized and increase the use of these inputs will increase the output. The study signifies that there is need to enhance usage for the maximization of profit. The major constraints were shortage of skilled labor, high wage rates, lack of storage facilities, transportation problem, problems in market intelligence. Provision of marketing facilities, fertilizers, pesticides, is made available at subsidized rates and availability of low cost technologies was the major suggestions of the respondents. The study also suggests that there is a need of adoption of improved technologies along with proper utilization of resources like manures and fertilizers, irrigation, and better management practices for improving both yield and net returns among the mango growers. The main reasons for the low productivity were imbalances in nutrient application, alternate bearing and inadequate fertilization.