Analysis of Economic Viability of Rice Production by Alternative Systems of Fanning in West Bengal

摘要

Organic crop production system is perceived to be a viable alternative to conventional and purely inorganic methods in spite of low productivity compared to the later two systems and has potentiality to take care of long term food security of the nation. Present study based on primary data collected from North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal reveals that organic rice yield is 5.57 and 0.50 % below the average of conventional and purely inorganic system respectively. Total returns are recorded tobe 13.04 and 16.53% above its counter parts in the same order. Although sample farmers incur 15.15 and 18.70% more prime cost of cultivation, they earn 9.83 and 13.22% higher net return over two competing systems respectively due to presence of higher premium prices which consumers are ready to pay realizing the beneficial effects of organic products of human health and harmful impact on environment and soil fertility. So, lower physical yield of organic rice apparently seems a threat to future food security of the nation, but this sustainable alternative system of crop production will be able to feed every people of India when sustainability of this form of eco-friendly cropproduction system considering the instability associated with the existing crop production practices popularly known as “Green Revolution” technology.