Production And Marketing Of Pulses And Oilseeds

The present work attempts to examine the performances of oilseed and pulse crops production. But the overall performance of pulses and oilseeds production presents a gloomy picture. Per capita availability as well as per capita consumption of pulses and edible oils in India are much below the recommended level. Time-series analysis fail to provide any definite trend rather fluctuation in area and productivity of total as well as individual pulse and oilseed crops in India. Whereas, in West Bengal and Burdwan, the productivity of gram, rape and mustard, linseed and sesamum do not show any trend, yet the gram area has registered as decline and rape, mustard and sesamum during 1957-58 abd 1983-84. In case of gram, one-year and in case of oilseeds area the area ration are found to be main factors in explaining the observed variation in pulse and oilseed crops. An analysis of profitability of pulse and oilseed crops and their competing crops provide a possible factor in allocation of area under a particular crop. Difference in price received over cost of production is another possible factor observed in explaining the area allocation decision of farmers. The work clearly receals the motivation and market orientation of different size of farm-groups. Inefficient marketing system is an essential element for the development of and pre-requisite for sustaining increased agricultural production. But the price-spread and market efficiency or inefficiency fail to explain the observed variation in the area under pulses and oilseeds in the State of West Bengal. Considering the importance and growing demand for pulses and oilseeds, especially edible oil-rape and mustard the present work suggests the policy makers and agricultural scientists should pay more attention to increase the yield and production through technological changes. Incentives should be provided to bring more area under pulses and oilseeds in the country. Co-operative marketing Societies and Regulated Markets should be strengthened to facilitate both growers and buyers.