Economics of Improved sorghum cultivars in farmers fields in Andhra Pradesh

Reddy, B V S and Rao, P P and Reddy, G R and Reddy, K K (2004) Economics of Improved sorghum cultivars in farmers fields in Andhra Pradesh. International Sorghum and Millets Newsletter, 45. pp. 40-42. ISSN 1023-487X

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Abstract

India is the second largest producer of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in the world, producing 7.8 million t in 2001–02 (CMIE 2004). Sorghum in India is grown in the rainy season (June–October) on around 4.5 million ha and in the postrainy season (September–January) on around 5.4 million ha. In the state of Andhra Pradesh, rainy season sorghum is grown on 0.3 million ha, producing 0.29 million t of grain while the postrainy season sorghum accounts for 0.34 million ha producing 0.35 million t of grain (Government of Andhra Pradesh 2003). Generally, resource-poor small farmers in the semi-arid regions of Andhra Pradesh with less than 1 ha of land grow sorghum. The crop is mainly cultivated under semisubsistence farming to meet household requirements of food and fodder with a small marketable surplus. While postrainy season sorghum is almost completely used for human consumption, rainy season sorghum, which is used for food, is also used for non-food purposes such as poultry and livestock feed, and alcohol and starch manufacturing (Kleih et al. 2000). Lack of availability of rainy season sorghum in bulk quantities and assured supplies is one of the main reasons constraining its usage in industry. High per unit cost of production of local sorghum and unremunerative grain price reduce its profitability to farmers. Although about 35% of marketable surplus is available, these are often scattered and hence non-economical to procure in sufficient bulk quantities by industrial users (Marsland and Parthasarathy Rao 2000).

Item Type: Article
Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Subjects: Mandate crops > Sorghum
Others > Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
Depositing User: Ms Vibha Raju
Date Deposited: 05 Dec 2011 05:49
Last Modified: 05 Dec 2011 05:49
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/4393
Official URL:
Projects: UNSPECIFIED
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement: UNSPECIFIED
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