A COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL STUDY BETWEEN POTATO AND MUSTARD PRODUCTION IN SELECTED AREAS OF GAIBANDHA DISTRICT

Abstract

The present study was designed with a view to analyze the comparative financial aspects of the selected crops such as potato & mustard production. A total of 120 potato & mustard producing farmers were randomly selected from six villages under Gobindogonj and Polashbari Upazila of Gaibandha district. Mainly tabular analysis was done to achieve the major objectives of the study. Cobb-Douglas production function model was also used to identify and measure the specific effects of the factors on production. The findings of the study revealed that the productions of selected crops were profitable. The per hectare total costs of production of potato and mustard were Tk. 136826 and Tk. 52976, respectively and the corresponding gross incomes were Tk. 215000 and Tk. 63623, respectively. The estimated net return of producing potato and mustard were Tk. 78174and Tk. 10647, respectively. The results indicate that potato farmers received the higher gross return and net return compared to mustard producers. Functional analysis revealed that the variation of yield was greatly influenced by the human labour, fertilizers, pesticide and irrigation. These factors were directly or jointly responsible for the variation of yields. The study also revealed that the farmers faced various types of problems, such as lack of irrigation facilities, shortage of human labour, high price of fertilizers and insecticides, non-availability of quality seeds, low market price of product at harvest period, lack of storage facilities and inadequate transportation facilities. Based on the findings of the study, some recommendations were made for the development of potato and mustard production and to increase the income of the farmers.