Economics of red beans intercropping in maize in Dareil Valley of Diamer District, Northern Pakistan.

摘要

This study was carried out in Dareil Valley of Diamer District, Northern Areas of Pakistan during 2004-05 to examine the cost of production of intercropped crops and to compare its relative profitability with separately grown red beans [Phaseolus vulgaris] and maize [Zea mays]. The data were gathered by interviewing 82 farmers who are practising intercropping of red beans and maize. Most of the levelled and fertile land was intercropped while the marginal land was cultivated with maize or beans. Both monocropping and intercropping systems were labour intensive as labour costs accounted for 74% for red beans and 59% for maize of the total expenses in case of monocropping and 61% in case of intercropping. The cost mainly involved the opportunity cost of family labour. Per acre yield was highest in intercropping system both for red beans and maize than monocropping. The combined land equivalent ratios (LER) of intercropping system was greater than one. An LER of 5.49 shows that the intercropped area would produce five times as much as the monocropped. The average expenses amounted to Rs.6959 per acre for red beans, Rs.2992 for maize (sole crops) and Rs.15 374 for intercropping system was much higher than the total income of Rs.5696 for red beans, Rs.2184 for maize and Rs.14 219 for intercropped. The highest benefit cost ratio was that of intercropping 0.92 as against 0.82 for red beans and 0.73 for maize as sole crop. But the over all result shows that the farming has no net profit. Local seed varieties and labour extensive farming were the main problems that hampered the production and overall benefit to the farmers of the intercropping in the area. Early maturing improved varieties of red beans and maize suitable to the climatic condition of the area should be introduced in the area. It is suggested that more research work should be initiated to tackle the problems of population density, fertilizer requirements, seed type, seed rate etc., that limit the efficiency of monocropping and intercropping system..