COMPARATIVE PROFITABILITY AND RESOURCE USE EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS BETWEEN LOCAL AND HIGH YIELDING VARIETY OF POTATO IN MUNSHIGANJ DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

Potato is a vital crop in Bangladesh, with the country being the fourth-largest producer in Asia. It is contributing significantly to the country's economy and food security. The sample frame for this research was purposively chosen to include areas with extensive potato farming. A sample size of 80 farmers who cultivated potato in Munshiganj district was chosen. This research aimed to investigate the socio-demographic profile of potato farmers, assess the comparative profitability and resource use efficiency of hybrid and local varieties of potatoes, and identify the problems faced by farmers during potato cultivation. The research found that high yielding variety potato cultivation was more profitable than local variety potato cultivation, with an undiscounted benefit cost ratio of 1.20 compared to 1.02 for local variety potato cultivation. The study also found that all the inputs were overutilized. The constrains in potato production and marketing include high rotting rate during storage, low price of output, high cost of storage facilities, scarcity of quality seed, problems of middlemen in the market, lack of modern cultivation knowledge, and unavailability of credit and extension services. The government has implemented policies such as providing fertilizer and seed subsidies and creating potato storage facilities to help potato growers.