Production and Value Chain of Millets in North Karnataka A Management Appraisal

Abstract

The focus of the present study was on production and value chain of millets newlinein north- Karnataka under the jurisdiction of UAS, Dharwad. Out of 480 samples, 120 newlinefarmers, 40 commission agents, 40 wholesalers, 40 retailers, 40 processors and 200 newlineconsumers were selected for the study by multistage random sampling. Primary data newlinewas collected by personal interview method using pre-tested schedules and secondary newlinedata on area, production and productivity was collected for the period from 2000-01 to newline2014-15. In the case of major millets viz. Belagavi district (finger millet), Koppal newlinedistrict (pearl millet) and in the case of minor millets, Haveri district (little millet) and newlineKoppal district (foxtail millet) were selected. Descriptive statistics, growth rate, newlinecoefficient of variation, instability and Garette s ranking techniques were employe d for newlineanalysis of data . newlineThe growth in area and production of millets was negative except for growth in newlineproduction of pearl millet. Cost of cultivation of finger, pearl, foxtail and little millets newlinewas ` 16,875.77, ` 18,062.91, ` 19,821.03 and ` 21,784.91 per hectare respectively, of newlinewhich the fixed cost accounted for meager proportion as this was grown almost on newlinemarginal lands. The benefit- cost ratio was worked out to be 1.48, 1.12, 1.12 and 1.71 newlinefor finger, pearl, foxtail and little millets respectively, indicating its feasibility of newlinecultivation in rainfed marginal lands. In case of consumption pattern, it was observed newlinethat, majority of the respondents consumed it on daily basis as a staple food. The low newlineprofitability in millet production, limited market demand and limited market facility newlinewere the major problems faced by the farmer producers. Value added products of newlinemillets brought more returns than the millet grains. Hence, the study suggested the newlinefarmers to involve themselves in value addition of millets for getting better returns newlinerather than selling it in raw form. newline