An economic analysis of production of groundnut in Haryana

The current study investigates the costs, returns and constraints associated with groundnut production, focusing on the districts of Fatehabad, Hisar, Sirsa and Rewari in Haryana. The primary data for the study were gathered during the year 2021-22 through a survey conducted via personal interviews using a well-structured interview schedule. The calculated average total cost of cultivating groundnut across the four districts was Rs 98,275 per ha. Among these districts, Rewari stood out with the highest total cost of Rs 106,886 per hectare followed by Sirsa (Rs 100,271/ha), Fatehabad (Rs 93,790/ha) and Hisar (Rs 92,155/ha). Considering gross returns, which incorporated the value of byproducts, Rewari district again emerged as the leader with Rs 169,376 per hectare. In contrast, the other districts demonstrated lower gross returns per ha viz Sirsa (Rs 145,692), Fatehabad (Rs 129,242) and Hisar (Rs 128,781). The overall average net return per hectare was Rs 44,997. As B-C ratios were greater than one, this indicated that groundnut cultivation was economically viable in all the districts, with Rewari district having the highest profitability. Additionally, the study identified critical constraints impeding groundnut production. These constraints encompassed limited availability of improved seed varieties, high seed costs, increased instances of pest and disease infestations and the challenges of unpredictable weather and climatic conditions. These constraints collectively posed significant challenges to groundnut farmers, impacting both their productivity and profitability.