Economic analysis of green pea production in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra

Abstract:

The present study entitled “Economics of Production and Marketing of Green Pea (Pisum sativum L.) in Ahilyanagar District of Maharashtra” was undertaken to examine the cost and returns of green pea cultivation in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra. Green pea is an important vegetable crop providing substantial income to farmers due to its short duration, high market demand and favourable returns. The study was conducted in Parner and Sangamner tehsils of Ahilyanagar district. Primary data were collected from 90 selected green pea growers for the agricultural year 2024-25 through personal interviews using a pre-tested schedule. The collected data were analysed using standard cost concepts to estimate the cost of cultivation, gross income, net returns and B:C ratio.

The results revealed that the overall Cost ‘C’ of green pea cultivation was ₹1,70,113.78 per hectare. The average productivity was 48.74 quintals per hectare, while the gross income was estimated at ₹2,62,811.18 per hectare. The B:C ratio at Cost ‘C’ was 1.54, indicating the economic viability and profitability of green pea cultivation in the study area. The analysis further showed variation in the cost and returns across different farm-size groups. The Cost ‘C’ was estimated at ₹1,74,301.53 per hectare for small farms, ₹1,68,919.57 per hectare for medium farms and ₹1,67,120.26 per hectare for large farms. The corresponding gross incomes were ₹2,70,240.38, ₹2,65,066.37 and ₹2,53,126.79 per hectare, respectively. The B:C ratios at Cost ‘C’ were 1.55 for small farms, 1.57 for medium farms and 1.51 for large farms. The results indicate that green pea cultivation was economically profitable across all farm-size groups, with medium farms recording the highest B:C ratio. Overall, the study confirms that green pea cultivation has good potential as a remunerative and economically viable crop enterprise in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra.