FACTORS AFFECTING LENTIL ACREAGE IN THE POTHWAR REGION OF PAKISTAN’S PUNJAB

  • Muhammad Qasim Social Sciences Research Institute, PARC, Faisalabad
  • Irfan Mehmood Social Sciences Research Institute, PARC, Faisalabad
  • Sonila Hassan Social Sciences Research Institute, PARC, Faisalabad
  • Mazher Abbas Social Sciences Research Institute, PARC, Faisalabad
  • Rashed Saeed Social Sciences Research Institute, PARC, Faisalabad
Keywords: Lentil dis-adoption, Yield, Profit Margins, Cost-Benefit Ratio

Abstract

This paper is organized to investigate the specific factors responsible for decrease in the lentil area and production, and to evaluate the dis-adoption trend of farming community for lentil sowing in arid zone of Pakistan’s Punjab. The data is collected in April 2013 and 60 farmers were interviewed from Chakwal and Rawalpindi District. The findings of the paper shows wheat as major rabi crop in study area with overall 44.6% operational holding its cultivation, followed by mustard (20percent) and lentil (8.8 percent). The cost estimates showed highest per acre average and total variable cost for wheat (Rs. 29638 and Rs. 32032 respectively) followed by Lentil (20979.88 and Rs. 23378.75 respectively. Average and total variable cost was lowest for mustard Rs. 17234.23/ac and Rs. 19776.88/ac respectively. Average yield attained by respondents was highest for wheat (34.85 maunds/ac) followed by Mustard (15.7 maunds/ac) and lentil (9.82 maunds/ac). The revenue generated was also highest for wheat (Rs. 39580) followed by mustard (Rs. 30367.65) and lentil (Rs. 25436.36). The estimated percent profit margins are also highest for mustard and accounts about 61.32 percent of the investment followed by wheat (40.62 %) and lentil (36 %). The cost benefit ratio was also highest in case of mustard. The paper however concluded that mustard and wheat being the replacing crops for lentil are more profitable and are responsible for the reduction of lentil acreage in pothwar region.

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Published
2013-12-15
Issue
Vol 8 No 2 (2013)
Section
Articles
Copyright (c) 2013 Muhammad Qasim, Irfan Mehmood, Sonila Hassan, Mazher Abbas, Rashed Saeed

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