Benefit-cost analysis of mentha growing vis-à-vis major competing crops in Punjab

Mentha is a seasonal cash crop grown in some areas of the Punjab state where mostly paddy-potato-mentha crop rotation is predominantly followed. The present investigation envisages to estimate the quantum of human and machine use in mentha growing and to undertake the benefit-cost analysis of mentha and competing crops. The primary data from 100 mentha growers were collected from Ludhiana and Jalandhar districts. The results of the study brought out that on all the farm size categories, about 45 per cent expenses were incurred on human labour use in raising mentha crop followed by 23 to 25 per cent on suckers, about 14 per cent on machine labour, 7 per cent on fertilizer use and remaining 5 to 7 per cent on plant protection measures comprising the total variable cost. Benefit-cost analysis inferred that mentha was found to be more profitable than its major competing crops viz. sunflower and spring maize. The study stressed on the need of insurance cover for mentha growers and price protection to prevent distress sale especially in the case of small farmers who require immediate post processing payment of their produce from the distillation unit.