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During the year 2007-08, the area under green peas in Punjab was 18.45 thousand hectares with a production of 1.11 lakh tonnes. The total consumption at the farm level being just 2.54 per cent, the marketed surplus was 97.46 per cent. The maximum quantity of green peas was sold by the growers in the wholesale market (about 89%) and the rest was sold at the farm, in the village and in Apni Mandi. The marketing of green peas has been studied by three supply chains, viz. I: Producer → wholesaler (through commission agent) → retailer → consumer; II: Producer → retailer (through commission agent) → consumer; III: Producer → consumer. The net price received by the producer was 67 per cent, 69 per cent and 94 per cent in supply chains I, II and III respectively in the Hoshiarpur market in January, 2009. The producer’s share in supply chain III was the maximum because of direct sale by the producer to the consumer. The supply chain III has been found most efficient because its marketing efficiency was 14.83 as compared to 2.70 in supply chain II and 2.38 in supply chain I. The low marketing efficiency in supply chain I was on account of a higher number of market intermediaries in this chain. The functional analysis of the factors affecting the marketing efficiency has revealed that with one per cent increase in marketing margins and costs, the marketing efficiency declined by 0.45 per cent and 0.44 per cent, respectively. The modern market infrastructure may be built up with the public-private partnership to bring efficiency in the marketing of green peas.

The technical efficiency in crop production has been reported in different regions as well as in the state of Punjab to show how different regions have adopted the latest technology. Technical efficiency of individual farms has been estimated through stochastic frontier production function analysis. The production function estimates have pointed towards the presence of disguised unemployment in the sub-mountainous region of the Punjab state. The technical efficiency has shown a wide variation across regions. The average technical efficiency has been found maximum in the central region (90 per cent), followed by south-western and sub-mountainous regions. The main drivers of inefficiency have been identified as experience in agriculture and age of a farmer. The policy intervention to improve technical efficiency being not the same for all the regions, the study has observed that the state would benefit more if policy interventions are developed at the local level.

Punjab is the second largest producer of wheat after Uttar Pradesh in the country but the state’s share in contribution to the central pool is maximum. The study has brought out that the marketed surplus of wheat was about 84 per cent with the selected farmers and about 96 per cent of the produce was sold during the post-harvest period. The study has revealed that per holding debt of the selected farmers, on an average, was Rs 1.71 lakh. About 99 per cent of wheat arrival was during the post-harvest period, from April to June in 2007-08. Wheat price in the months of April and May was almost equal to the MSP from 1997-98 to 2007- 08. During the lean period, there was a mixed scenario of the price. All this depended on the forces of the demand and supply. A vast majority (about 76 %) of the selected farmers have not been found in the favour of staggered public procurement of wheat. The public procurement agencies have their own practical limitations to operate in the grain markets throughout the year. Such a step will add to the procurement cost and the burden of food subsidy to be borne by the Union Government will increase further. Already it is Rs 56002 crore in 2009-10. Keeping in view the scenario at the farm and market levels, it is not feasible to have staggered public procurement of wheat in Punjab. Theoretically, it looks an attractive proposal but from practical point of view, it is not much feasible.

The cost and return analysis of different sizes of broiler farms in the Punjab state has been carried out based on the primary data collected from 140 broiler farmers for the period March 2008 to February 2009 in three districts, viz. Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Muktsar. The study has shown that the total fixed investments per bird have been highest on small farms, followed by medium and large farms. The total variable cost per bird has been reported highest on small farms, followed by medium and large farms. The total cost of meat production per bird has been found highest on small broiler farms, followed by medium and large farms. The net returns per bird over the variable costs have been recorded highest on large farms and economies of scale prevail on these farms. The meat-feed price ratio and benefit-cost ratio have been found to increase with increase in farm-size of broiler farms, which indicates better utilization of inputs on large farms. On the basis of net present value, benefit-cost ratio and internal rate of return, investment in broiler farming has been found profitable in all farm-sizes, it being most profitable on large farms, followed by medium and small farms. The small broiler farms have been observed highly sensitive to increase in costs and decrease in net returns. The study has observed that broiler farming is a profitable venture and has a bright future in the Punjab agriculture for improving economic status of the farming community

The technical efficiency in crop production has been reported in different regions as well as in the state of Punjab to show how different regions have adopted the latest technology. Technical efficiency of individual farms has been estimated through stochastic frontier production function analysis. The production function estimates have pointed towards the presence of disguised unemployment in the sub-mountainous region of the Punjab state. The technical efficiency has shown a wide variation across regions. The average technical efficiency has been found maximum in the central region (90 per cent), followed by south-western and sub-mountainous regions. The main drivers of inefficiency have been identified as experience in agriculture and age of a farmer. The policy intervention to improve technical efficiency being not the same for all the regions, the study has observed that the state would benefit more if policy interventions are developed at the local level.

The cost and return analysis of different sizes of broiler farms in the Punjab state has been carried out based on the primary data collected from 140 broiler farmers for the period March 2008 to February 2009 in three districts, viz. Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Muktsar. The study has shown that the total fixed investments per bird have been highest on small farms, followed by medium and large farms. The total variable cost per bird has been reported highest on small farms, followed by medium and large farms. The total cost of meat production per bird has been found highest on small broiler farms, followed by medium and large farms. The net returns per bird over the variable costs have been recorded highest on large farms and economies of scale prevail on these farms. The meat-feed price ratio and benefit-cost ratio have been found to increase with increase in farm-size of broiler farms, which indicates better utilization of inputs on large farms. On the basis of net present value, benefit-cost ratio and internal rate of return, investment in broiler farming has been found profitable in all farm-sizes, it being most profitable on large farms, followed by medium and small farms. The small broiler farms have been observed highly sensitive to increase in costs and decrease in net returns. The study has observed that broiler farming is a profitable venture and has a bright future in the Punjab agriculture for improving economic status of the farming community

Punjab is the second largest producer of wheat after Uttar Pradesh in the country but the state’s share in contribution to the central pool is maximum. The study has brought out that the marketed surplus of wheat was about 84 per cent with the selected farmers and about 96 per cent of the produce was sold during the post-harvest period. The study has revealed that per holding debt of the selected farmers, on an average, was Rs 1.71 lakh. About 99 per cent of wheat arrival was during the post-harvest period, from April to June in 2007-08. Wheat price in the months of April and May was almost equal to the MSP from 1997-98 to 2007- 08. During the lean period, there was a mixed scenario of the price. All this depended on the forces of the demand and supply. A vast majority (about 76 %) of the selected farmers have not been found in the favour of staggered public procurement of wheat. The public procurement agencies have their own practical limitations to operate in the grain markets throughout the year. Such a step will add to the procurement cost and the burden of food subsidy to be borne by the Union Government will increase further. Already it is Rs 56002 crore in 2009-10. Keeping in view the scenario at the farm and market levels, it is not feasible to have staggered public procurement of wheat in Punjab. Theoretically, it looks an attractive proposal but from practical point of view, it is not much feasible.

The study has reported different sources of paddy seed, seed replacement rate of paddy growers, and management of paddy seed by the farmers in two selected districts of Punjab. Amongst different sources of paddy seed, the share of private seed dealers has been found maximum (H” 48 per cent), followed by authorized seed dealer (H” 19 per cent), self-retained (11.5 per cent) and commission agents (H” 11 per cent).The share of other sources like fellow farmers, relatives and friends, PAU, village shopkeeper, state agriculture department, etc. has been found only 1-2 per cent each. The overall seed replacement rate has been found to be about 24 per cent. The farm category-wise analysis has revealed a direct relationship between seed replacement rate and farm size. The seed rate has been found almost equal to the recommended level in the Ludhiana district while in Patiala district, it is much below the recommended value. Amongst determinants of quality of seeds, experience of the farmers has been reported at the first place, followed by advice of fellow farmers, reputation of institute, etc. Regarding linkages, the large farmers have more contacts with different seed agencies. The study has suggested that extension agencies should educate the farmers about the usefulness of quality seeds and their replacement with the seed procured form reliable sources like PAU, PUNSEED, Department of Agriculture, etc.

The study has reported different sources of paddy seed, seed replacement rate of paddy growers, and management of paddy seed by the farmers in two selected districts of Punjab. Amongst different sources of paddy seed, the share of private seed dealers has been found maximum (H†48 per cent), followed by authorized seed dealer (H†19 per cent), self-retained (11.5 per cent) and commission agents (H†11 per cent).The share of other sources like fellow farmers, relatives and friends, PAU, village shopkeeper, state agriculture department, etc. has been found only 1-2 per cent each. The overall seed replacement rate has been found to be about 24 per cent. The farm category-wise analysis has revealed a direct relationship between seed replacement rate and farm size. The seed rate has been found almost equal to the recommended level in the Ludhiana district while in Patiala district, it is much below the recommended value. Amongst determinants of quality of seeds, experience of the farmers has been reported at the first place, followed by advice of fellow farmers, reputation of institute, etc. Regarding linkages, the large farmers have more contacts with different seed agencies. The study has suggested that extension agencies should educate the farmers about the usefulness of quality seeds and their replacement with the seed procured form reliable sources like PAU, PUNSEED, Department of Agriculture, etc.