ECONOMICS OF POTATO PRODUCTION IN SOME SELECTED AREAS OF SYLHET DISTRICT

Abstract

The present study is aimed to assess the availability, utilization, repayment performance and profitability of potato in some selected areas of sylhet district. A total of 50 loanee farmers were selected from different villages of Fenchugong Upazila in Sylhet district. Tabular method and cob- Douglas production function model were used to achieve the major objectives of the study. The study revealed that potato cultivation was a profitable business. It was found that the average per hectare potato production for small, medium and large farmers were 16804 kg, 17543 kg and18291kg. The study showed that net return per hectare was in small, medium and large tk.68832, 89682 and 117980 respectively. The net return was the highest for large farms (tk. 117980) followed by medium (tk. 89682) and small (tk. 68832) farms. The findings of the study clearly indicate that the loanee farmers having large farm holding obtained higher profit followed by medium and small farmers. The result of cob-Douglas production function model indicates that per hectares gross returns were significantly influenced by the use of human labor, seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, insecticides and manure. These factors were directly or indirectly responsible for influencing per hectares gross returns of potato. The study indicates that BKB has greater contribution as findings agency to potato production than other institutional sources of credit. But it is clear that the potato growers got credit as a part of operating capital which was not sufficient to them. Most of the loaned money has been utilized productively by the sampled farmers. Amount of loan, income, expenditure of the borrower and return from potato were the significant factors affecting loan repayment by the respondents. The study also indicated that farmers were facing some problems. Major problems were non-availability of quality seeds and high price, low market price of potatoes, shortage of human labor in due time, lack of storage facilities, high prices of fertilizer and insecticides etc. The farmers opined that potato production will be economically viable through quality seeds need to be confirmed with affordable price, attention should be paid for ensuring marketing facilities with standard price of potatoes, storage facilities should be secured, fertilizer and insecticides has to be ascertained for farmers with reasonable price etc.