Comparative Economic Analysis of Basmati and Non-Basmati Paddy Cultivation in Punjab

The present study examines the comparative economics of cultivation of basmati and non-basmati paddy in Punjab State. The study was based on the primary data collected for 2013–14 kharif season from farmers selected through multi-stage random sampling technique. It was found that cultivation of basmati was resource conserving in comparison to the non-basmati paddy. Except human labour use, the significant low use of all other inputs in basmati cultivation than that in non-basmati paddy points towards the importance of basmati in conservation of crucial resources of the state. Though the yield of basmati was 44.55 percent less as compared to that from the non-basmati paddy, yet it was highly compensated by about 161 percent higher price realized for basmati paddy. The returns over variable costs from basmati at [J107559 per ha were 74.37 percent higher as compared toff) 1684 per ha received from the non-basmati paddy. Thus, during the study year the basmati cultivation besides being resource conserving was highly remunerative in comparison to non-basmati paddy cultivation.