Cost and Return Analysis of Green Gram in Sri Ganganagar District of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

This study examined the cost of cultivation, yield, returns and profitability of green gram (Vigna radiata) cultivation among beneficiary and non-beneficiary respondents of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan during the agricultural year 2024-25. Primary data were collected from 80 beneficiary and 80 non-beneficiary green gram growers, categorised into small, medium and large farm-size groups, using a pre-tested interview schedule. Costs of cultivation and returns were estimated on a per-hectare basis following standardised CACP cost concepts (Cost A1 to Cost C3). The results revealed that the average cost of cultivation was higher for beneficiary respondents (₹50,477.65/ha) than for non-beneficiary respondents (₹43,031.62/ha), mainly due to greater investment in quality inputs and timely farm operations facilitated by institutional credit. Beneficiary respondents recorded a higher grain yield (12.66 q/ha) and gross income (₹94,734.31/ha) than non-beneficiary respondents (10.04 q/ha and ₹74,244.88/ha, respectively). Despite higher cultivation costs, beneficiary respondents had a lower cost of production (₹3,868.02/q) than non-beneficiary respondents (₹4,287.09/q) and a higher return per rupee invested (1.92 compared with 1.73). The overall net income was also higher among beneficiary respondents (₹46,518.85/ha) than among non-beneficiary respondents (₹31,213.26/ha). The study concludes that access to institutional credit through PACS was associated with higher productivity, lower unit production costs and greater profitability in green gram cultivation.