Resource use and economic potential of cluster bean in Haryana

The present study was conducted during 2023-24 in four districts namely, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Bhiwani and Rewari from South - West Haryana with the objective to analyse the economic potential, resource use efficiency and constants faced by cluster bean farmers. Budgeting technique was employed to draw practical implications, production function technique was used for measure the extent of resource use in cluster bean cultivation for taking policy decisions to encourage its cultivation in Haryana. The result of the study revealed that overall average per hectare total cost of cultivation was Rs. 54599. The overall average gross return of cluster bean was Rs. 69204 per hectare. The return over variable cost and net return were Rs. 43213 and Rs. 14605 per hectare, respectively. Moreover, the value of overall B:C ratio over variable and total cost was 2.66 & 1.27 which indicated the economic viability of cluster bean cultivation in the study area. The value of the coefficient of multiple determinations, R square (R2 estimated 0.4868) indicated that 48.68 per cent of variation in the total gross income of cluster bean cultivation was explained by explanatory variables included in the model. The efficiency ratio of the inputs: machine labour, chemical fertilizers, plant protection and irrigation were greater than one indicating that the uses of these inputs were underuse. While, human labour and seed cost both were less than one which indicated over utilization of these resources. Major constraints were non fixation of MSP and insurance scheme for this crop (91.66%), less availability of good quality seed (88.33%), less adoption of package practices like under dose of fertilizer (85%), low adoption of plant protection chemicals like seed treatment (80%), price fluctuations in post-harvest period (76.66%), manual harvesting causing skin rashes responsible for labour scarcity (68.66%).