An Economic Analysis of Production, Marketing and Post Harvest Losses in Soybean in Kabirdham District, Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh contributes a major share in the production of soybean and it is produced by thousands of farmers. A study on economic analysis of post harvest losses in soybean of Kabirdham district in Chhattisgarh plain was conducted during 2014–15. The study covered 12 villages of two blocks and data on cost-return, production, marketing, post harvest loses and constraints aspects of soybean cultivation were collected from 120 farmers. Total cost incurred in soybean cultivation amounted to be Rs. 26565.34 per ha. Average net income of soybean cultivation was found to be 37703.66 Rs/ha. Average input-output ratio worked out to be 1: 2.42 at soybean. The post harvest losses of soybean have been estimated to be 77.05 kg per hectare and 4.60 kg per quintal. The losses have been highest during drying (18.76 kg/ha) and (1.12 kg/q.) in soybean followed by threshing (16.25 kg/ha) and (0.97 kg/q), storage (16.08 kg/ha) and (0.96 kg/q), harvesting (15.08 kg/ha) and (0.90 kg/q), winnowing (5.70 kg/ha) and (0.34 kg/q) and transportation (5.19 kg/ha) and (0.31kg/q), respectively. Decreasing yield due to growing the crop regularly in same field, lack of availability of fund, labour shortage, insects/pests/disease, lack of improved varieties, lack of soil testing facilities and irrigation were the major constraints in soybean cultivation. The study suggested that there is an urgent need to increase the area under soybean by developing improved and high yielding varieties, irrigation at farm level, low cost mechanization, creation of storage facilities, processing units, implementation of MSP, credit and price support, marketing effective extension and dissemination of market information to soybean growers for enhancing production, marketing and minimizing post harvest losses in soybean.