INPUT USE, COSTS STRUCTURE, RETURN ANALYSIS OF BIDI TOBACCO AND WHEAT CROP IN GUJARAT : A COMPARATIVE STUDY

The present study was conducted with the objectives to comparative study of the input use pattern, cost structure, returns of inputs used in bidi tobacco and wheat production in Anand and Kheda district. Both districts were collectively covered about 79.62 per cent area of bidi tobacco in triennium average for the year 2008-09, 2009-10 & 2010-11. Two talukas from each selected district and three villages were selected randomly from each selected talukas. Considering size of population and resources, 120 cultivators were selected randomly with proportional allocation from the selected villages. The total cost of cultivation of bidi tobacco farms exceed wheat farms by Rs 27674.28/ha. Highest share in total cost was found for rental value of land in bidi tobacco and wheat crop. On an average Cost A (paid out cost) formed 53.32 per cent of total cost, while Cost B accounted for 83.34 per cent of total cost for tobacco farms. Whereas, in case of wheat Cost A formed 61.68 per cent of total cost which is higher than tobacco farms, while Cost B accounted for 82.35 per cent of total cost. The average total cost (Cost C-2) per hectare in wheat and bidi tobacco crop was Rs 36181/ha and Rs 63856/ha, respectively. The yield of wheat was 31.92 quintals per hectare, which exceeds tobacco by 13.19 quintals per hectare. On an average net gain over Cost C 2 in bidi tobacco was Rs 140813.26/ha and for wheat Rs. 48228.68/ha. The average per hectare net farm business income, family labour income and farm investment income were Rs. 78015.51, Rs 66323.34 and Rs 71977.53, respectively on the bidi tobacco over wheat farms. The input-output ratio was 1: 2.21 and 1: 1.41 for bidi tobacco and wheat crop, respectively.