1Central Potato Research Institute, Campus-Modipuram, Meerut-250110, (U.P.).
2Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabi Bagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal-462038, (M.P.).
3Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla-171001, (H.P.).
The study was undertaken in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh to test the viability of prevalent seed production system. It examined the input-output relationship, cost and return analysis and resource use efficiency in seed potato production. The results indicated viability of seed potato production enterprise since benefit-cost ratio in seed potato production was 1.25 on non-certified seed potato farms and 1.29 on certified seed potato farms. There was a deviation from optimal use of resources in case of both certified as well as non-certified seed potato production. Profitability in seed potato production can be increased by increasing the area under seed potato production and decreasing the use of fertilizers to optimum level in both the cases, while in the case of certified seed potato production by increasing the use of human labour, tractor labour and plant protection chemicals. Emphasis should be laid on the optimal use of fertilizers and other resources since area under certified seed production can not be increased because of limited quantity of foundation-I seed potato.
