International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Dey G, Munjam Arun Kumar and Pandit D

abstract
This study was conducted in Khanakul-I block in Hooghly district of West Bengal. The agricultural households in a village were completely enumerated in respect of area under different crops. Fifty agricultural households were randomly selected as sample households from 117 agricultural households by the technique of Simple Random Sampling Without Replacement (SRSWOR). Three summer crops like boro paddy, sesame and groundnut were taken in the purview of the study. Necessary primary data on various aspects of these crops were collected from sample agricultural households. The concept of cost C was used in cost of cultivation of these three crops. Values of main product and by-product were taken into account while estimating gross returns of these crops. Size class wise comparison among these three summer crops was attempted in respect of costs, gross returns and net returns. The reference period of the study pertained to 2015-16 agricultural year. The study revealed that sample farmers belonged to either marginal size class or small size class. Both the size classes of farms cultivated other crops like aman paddy, mustard, potato besides groundnut, sesame and boro paddy. Percentage of net sown area under groundnut was higher in marginal size class than in small size class of farms. A reverse picture was noted in the case of sesame and boro paddy. The results of the study also indicated cultivation of groundnut and boro paddy in leased-in land besides owned land. As a whole, net sown area under groundnut was 61.52 of the total net sown area. The corresponding figures for sesame and boro paddy were 9.69 per cent and 28.79 per cent respectively. Per hectare cost of cultivation of groundnut was slightly higher in small size class as compared to that in marginal size class of farms. Per hectare cost of cultivation of sesame was also recorded higher in small size class of farms. A negligible difference in per hectare cost of cultivation of boro paddy was found between two size classes of farms. Comparison among these crops indicated the highest per hectare cost of cultivation in groundnut. The lowest cost of cultivation was recorded for sesame in this study. As regards gross return relative positions of these three crops were same as those for per hectare cost of cultivation. Gross return per hectare of groundnut was 57.44 per cent higher than that of boro paddy and 136.16 per cent higher than that of sesame. Return cost ratio was highest for groundnut and it was lowest for boro paddy. Net return per hectare of groundnut exceeded boro paddy and sesame by amounts of Rs. 43393 and Rs. 44183 respectively. Due to risk situation arising from cyclone and undesirable sudden rainfall in summer season farmers followed diversified farming in this season.