Abstract

Nimit Kumar and Gunadhar Dey

The study was conducted in four development blocks of Lalitpur district during the agricultural year 2014-15. Five villages from each block were selected randomly. Further, from each village 15 farmers were selected randomly so as to constitute a total sample size of 300. Primary data on cost and return of blackgram were collected by interviewing the farmers with the help of specially structured and pre-tested schedule. For computation of costs and returns, the concept framed by CACP was used. In the study per hectare cost of blackgram was highest in semi-medium size category of farms. This was lowest in large size category of farms. Irrespective of size categories i.e., for all farms cost per hectare was Rs. 27779.31. The gross return per hectare of all farms was Rs. 41535.04. The Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) was highest in case of marginal farms and it was found to be 1.54, followed by 1.52, 1.51 1.48, and 1.45 in medium, large, small, and semi-medium farms respectively. This gradual decrease in BCR could be explained in terms of declining gross return across the higher size categories of farms. However, for all farms BCR was 1.49.