A comparative study on production and marketing of brown rice in Kerala and Tamil Nadu

The study was conducted to assess the costs and returns in production and marketing of brown rice in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Primary data were collected from producers (10 millers) and intermediaries (20 wholesalers/retailers) and hundred consumers of both the states through well-structured interview schedule using simple random sampling. Results revealed that total cost for production of brown rice was higher in Tamil Nadu (Rs 3244.25/q for raw and Rs 3264.25/q for parboiled traditional varieties; Rs 2044.25/q for raw and Rs 2064.50/q for parboiled improved varieties) but processing cost alone was higher in Kerala (Rs 240.20/q and Rs 270.40/q for raw rice in conventional and modern rice mills respectively and additional Rs 20/q for each as cost of parboiling). Net return from one quintal of brown rice was highest in modern rice mills of Kerala for traditional varieties (Rs 1176.60/q and Rs 1179.60/q for raw and parboiled rice respectively) and in conventional rice mills of Tamil Nadu for improved varieties (Rs 1846.75/q for raw rice and Rs 2341.50/q for parboiled rice). Only a little quantity of total paddy processed was converted into brown rice. Also brown rice production in Tamil Nadu was lesser as compared to Kerala. Thus economists, engineers, plant breeders and government have to take joint action to increase marketability of the product.