This study was designed to determine the costs, returns and relative profitability of BR-28, BR-29 and Hybrid Hira rice production. A total of 90 farmers out of which 30 producing each were selected randomly from three villages of Nageswari Upazila of Kurigram district in Bangladesh. It revealed that cultivation of BR-28, BR-29 and Hybrid Hira was a profitable business from the viewpoint of farmers. Analysis of costs and returns showed that variable cost was found to be higher for BR-28 variety. The return per hectare above variable cost for BR-28 was found Tk 44764.26 while for BR-29 and Hybrid Hira variety, it was Tk 53290.24 and 64305.62, respectively. Total cost per hectare for BR-28 was Tk 92635.04 and for BR-29 and for Hybrid Hira variety, it was Tk 92464.07 and 86160.81, respectively. Return above total cost for Hybrid Hira was found higher than BR-28 and BR-29 varieties. Therefore, production of Hybrid Hira was found more profitable compared to BR-28 and BR-29. It was observed from Cobb-Douglas production function that most of the included variables had significant impact on rice production. The study also identified some problems faced by the farmers and they were more severe for the production of Hybrid Hira variety compared to HYV’s BR-28 and BR-29 varieties. The study, therefore, suggests for taking some measures to solve the problems in order to expand production of selected rice varieties in the study areas as well as other parts of the country.

Keywords: Rice, production costs, returns, profitability

The present study was undertaken to estimate the profitability and resource use efficiency under different farm size groups of maize production. In total, 65 farmers (30 small, 30 medium and 5 large) were randomly selected from five villages of Bogra district. Both tabular and statistical analyses were applied in this study. Cost and return analysis reveal that maize is a profitable crop for all categories of farmers. On an average per hectare total cost of maize production was estimated at Tk 46278 for all farmers and Tk 41263, 53554 and 48715 for small, medium and large farmers, respectively. Again, gross margins from maize production were estimated at Tk 67592, 64694 and 74089 for small, medium and large farmers, respectively. However, net returns for the farm size groups of small, medium and large were calculated at Tk 57823, 53895 and 64138 per hectare, respectively. BCR was the highest (2.40) for the small farmers followed by medium (2.01) and large (2.32) farmers, respectively. Cobb-Douglas production function analysis indicated that out of nine variables, the effects of using seed, manure, fertilizer, irrigation and insecticide had significant impact on gross return from maize production for all farmers. Efficiency analysis indicated that most of the farmers inefficiently used their inputs. The findings of the study revealed that large farmers earned higher profit than those of small and medium farmers. The study also indicated some problems and constraints of maize cultivation and suggested some recommendations to improve maize production with a view to increasing the household income and employment opportunities of the farmers.

Keywords: Maize, production costs, returns, profitability, resource use efficiency