Abstract:
Bangladesh is predominantly an agricultural country. Agriculture has an enceinte
contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. Various types of
crops are produced in this country. These crops can be categorized into two; food crops
and cash crops. Potato is one of the food-stuff of the most people of the world as well
as Bangladesh. This research was conducted to find out the problems that the farmers
face in cultivation and to study the trend of production of potato and relationship
between production and export of potato of Bangladesh. The study aimed to analyze
the technical efficiency and profitability of potato production by smallholder farmers
in Munshiganj district. A total of 60 farmers were selected randomly from the study
area. Data were collected through farm survey by using a suitable pre-tested
questionnaire in December 2019-January 2020. Profitability analysis, Cobb-Douglas
production function, VP, FC and Net return model were used to analyze the objectives.
The major findings of the study reveal that potato production is profitable. Average
gross return, gross margin and net return were found Tk. 2,23,202.71, Tk. 1,40,324.91
and Tk. 89,045.35, respectively. Benefit-cost ratio was found 1.66. The key production
factors, i.e. human labour, land preparation, seed, fertilizer, insecticides and irrigations
had significant effect on gross return of potato. In the technical inefficiency effect
model experience, farm size, training and credit service have expected (negative)
coefficients. The negative coefficient of farm size implies that large farm households
are technically more efficient than small farm households. The negative coefficient of
credit service postulates that farmers taking loan for producing potato are technically
more efficient than others. The coefficient of training implies that training farmers are
technically more efficient than non- training farmers. The positive coefficient of
extension service is positive meaning that these factors have no impact on the technical
inefficiency. That is, these factors do not reduce or increase technical inefficiency of
producing potato. Major problem faced by the potato farmers were lower price of potato
during harvesting period, price fluctuation, shortage of capital, high charge of cold
storage, lack of good quality seed, perish ability of potato, poor storage facility, higher
price of inputs and lack of marketing facility etc. Proper steps should be postulated by
Government to puzzle out this problem. At long last it will be helpful to the planners
and policy makers in contriving micro or macro level policy for the enlargement of
potato production in the country.
Description:
A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of Agribusiness Management,
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka,
in Partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS)
IN
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS