Search

This paper presents a study conducted in the Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, focusing on the marketing of bitter gourd in the selected area. The research employed a multistage stratified purposive cum random sampling technique to select the district, block, villages, and respondents. From the population, 100 growers were randomly chosen, comprising 66 marginal, 23 small, and 11 medium farmers during the period of 2021-2022, using the proportionate allocation technique. Primary data were collected through face-toface interviews using a survey schedule. Three distinct marketing channels for bitter gourd were identified: Channel-I (producer to consumer), Channel-II (producer to retailer to consumer) and Channel-III (producer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer). The study revealed that Channel-I exhibited the highest marketing efficiency (29.15), followed by Channel-II (5.47) and Channel-III showed the lowest efficiency (2.96). Notably, different groups of farms predominantly sold bitter gourd through Channel-III. The research also shed light on the challenges faced by bitter gourd growers, including issues related to perishability, price fluctuations, and inadequate storage facilities. The paper emphasizes the significance of policymakers and stakeholders addressing these challenges and developing effective strategies and interventions to support the bitter gourd farming community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the profitability and resource use efficiency of cucumber production in Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India. The study collected data from 100 cucumber farmers and used the Cobb-Douglas production function to estimate resource use efficiency. The study found that marginal farms had higher profitability compared to small and medium-sized farms, and identified factors such as human labor, machinery charges, and seed as significant contributors to output on marginal farms. The article emphasizes the importance of the horticulture sector in the Indian economy and highlights the nutritional and medicinal properties of vegetables like cucumbers. The findings suggest that certain variables can be adjusted to increase profitability in cucumber production. [Extracted from the article]