Production behaviour of potato in Assam-A critical analysis across zones and size groups of farms Borah Sangita*, Bowmick B.C., Hazarika C. Department of Agricultural Economics, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785013, India *Address for correspondence Sangita Borah: Department of Agricultural Economics, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785013, India E-mail: sborah007@yahoo.com
Online published on 28 April, 2016. Abstract Potato is one of the most important and widely cultivated vegetable crops of Assam and ranks fourth in terms of acreage under individual crop in the state. A study on Production behaviour of potato across size groups, districts and zones of Assam was conducted using data pertaining to Agricultural year 2013–14. The result of the study revealed that per hectare potato cultivation cost was found to be highest in LBVZ (Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone)  70362.08 followed by CBVZ (Central Brahmaputra Valley Zone) 70357.07, UBVZ (Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone) 70238.78 and NBPZ (North Bank Plain Zone) of Assam 69755.20 respectively. It was also observed that with increase in size group of farms area allocation under the crop also increased as a result cost of production of potato also recorded an increasing trend in all the zones of the state. This trend of increased area allocation across size groups the degree of commercialization of potato had also increased and productivity of the crop was found increasing gradually from size group I farmers to size group III farmers. Potato production in all the zones reflected that in LBVZ of Assam, from 1987 to 1997 witnessed sharp decrease in potato production. After 1994 till 2004 potato production was moving in upward direction due to incorporation of latest production technologies in the farmers field. Potato production in the CBVZ of Assam was found to be more or less unchanged during the whole period. In UBVZ it was reflected that from 1993 till 2003 potato production was found to be stagnant. After that it was showing upward movement. Similarly, in NBPZ also the potato production was found to be more or less stationary during the whole period. Top Keywords Production, size group of farms, potato, assam. Top |