ECONOMICS OF SUGARCANE PRODUCTION: A MICRO LEVEL STUDY

The study revealed that, Gross returns per hectare was Rs.220646.94 per hectare and Net return was Rs.70793.47 per hectare. Farm business income, family labour income and farm investment income were estimated to be Rs.134178.46 per hectare, Rs.95731.41 per hectare and Rs.122572.24 per hectare respectively. On an average cultivation of sugarcane generated 774.59 man days per year. Out of that 435.26 man days i.e. (56.20 per cent) was claimed by male labours whereas 339.33 man days was share of female labours. Operation wise analysis of the number of man days generated in cultivation of sugarcane indicated that male labours played a dominant role in activities like land preparation, earthing up, weeding, irrigation, seed treatment and application of manures and fertilizers. On the other hand female, labours had a larger share in employment in harvesting of sugarcane (51.57 per cent) and a substantial share (43.15 per cent) in planting of setts. However, male labours had also a substantial share (48.43 per cent) employment generated in harvesting.