Economic analysis of spring rice production at Rinchengang, Wangduephodrang

Thinley Gyem, Ngawang Chhogyel and Tanka Maya Pulami 

ABSTRACT

An economic analysis of spring rice cultivation at Rinchengang, Wangdue District was carried out to determine the cost effectiveness of spring rice cultivation. A total of 45 households engaged in spring rice cultivation with input support in the form of free seeds, polythene sheets and fertilisers from the ARDC Bajo were interviewed. An analysis of cost and returns of the practice indicated that spring rice cultivation is indeed not economical owing to low yield and high production costs. Rice is a labour intensive crop and the spring rice production costs do not vary much with that of the main season crop, however the yield is quite low leading to comparatively lower economic returns for spring paddy. Attack from birds was found to be the main reason behind the lower yield in spring rice causing up to 60-80% of yield damage. This was also identified to be one of the main reasons behind farmers decreasing interest in spring paddy. Other factors such as labour shortage, high labour costs and low levels of farm mechanization were found to be restraining spring rice in the region. In order to enhance spring rice cultivation and to encourage more farmers, the study identified the need for a sustainable bird control mechanism, without which spring rice promotion initiatives may not succeed.

KEYWORD:

Double cropping; costs, labour; material; yield

FULL TEXT: PDF Download

 

REFERANCES

Andrews D. & Kassam A. 1976. The importance of multiple cropping in increasing world food supplies, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.

Chhogyel N, Ghimiray M, Dorji C. & Gyem L. n.d. Impact of Decentralized Rural Development Project on Rice Production in Wangdue–Punakha Valley.

Chhogyel N, Ghimiray M, Wangdue K. & Bajgai Y. 2015. Enhancing Bhutanese Rice in the Domestic Market through increased Production and Favorable Pricing Regime. Journal of Bhutan Studies, 32, 26-44.

Ghimiray M, Dorji K, Katwal T, Penjore U, Dorji S, Pem S, Tenzin G. & Pradhan K. 2008. Rice in Bhutan-a resource book. Council for RNR Research of Bhutan. Ministry of Agriculture, Thimphu, Bhutan. 192p.

Hussein M. H. 2009. State of microfinance in Bhutan. Prepared for Institute of Microfinance (InM) as part of the project on State of Microfinance in SAARC Countries.

Mathieson K. 1991. Predicting user intentions: comparing the technology acceptance model with the theory of planned behavior. Information systems research, 2, 173-191.

Neuhoff D, Tashi S, Rahmann G & Denich M. 2014. Organic agriculture in Bhutan: potential and challenges. Organic agriculture, 4, 209-221.

Ruelle P. & Bruggers R. 1982. Traditional approaches for protecting cereal crops from birds in Africa.

Shrestha S. 2004. An economic impact assessment of the rice research program in Bhutan. International Rice Institute.

Subramanya S. 1994. Non-random foraging in certain bird pests of field crops. Journal of biosciences, 19, 369-380.

Tobgay S. 2005. Small farmers and the food system in Bhutan. FAO Symposium on Agricultural Commercialization and the Small Farmer, Rome, 4-5.

Wang H, Velarde O, Walisinghe R, Herath R.M, Rajapaksa D. 2012. Pattern of varietal adaption and economics of rice production in Srilanka. In Patterns of varietaladoption and economics of rice production in Asia.

Wang, H., Pandey, S. And Hardy, B,ed., Los Banos, International Rice Research Institute, 100-130.

Wang H, Pandey S. Hardy B. Editors. 2012. Patterns of varietaladoption and economics of rice production in Asia. Los Banos, International Rice Research Institute. 130p.