Economics of Mango Production, Marketing System and Constraints Faced by Growers in Lucknow District of Uttar Pradesh

Background: Mango is an important commercially grown fruit crop and it is very popular due to its wide range of adaptability and high nutritive value. The present study was conducted in Lucknow district of Uttar Pradesh to know the economics of mango production, marketing system and constraints faced by growers in production and marketing.
Methods: The study was based on primary data collected from 200 respondents with the help of personal interview using a pre-tested questionnaire, semi-structured interview schedule and open discussion method. Estimate the cost and return of mango cultivation by using simple cost and return equation. The marketing system of mango involved market channels, margin, cost, price spread, producer share in consumer’s rupee and marketing efficiency was worked out by tabular analysis. The Garrett’s ranking technique was adopted to rank the constraints faced by the growers in production and marketing of mango.
Result: The total cost of mango cultivation was found Rs.23450.67/ha. Out of which, the variable cost was constituted Rs.18316.39/ha (78.11%) and fixed cost was Rs.5134.28/ha (21.89%). The net return over the cost of cultivation was found to be highest as Rs. 62811.59/ha at the 4^th growing stage of orchard. It was observed that net price received by growers, per cent share in consumer’s rupees and market efficiency was highest in channel-III followed by channel-II and III, where the numbers of marketing intermediaries were involved lesser. The market margin, cost and price spread were highest in channel-I followed by Channel-II and III. The channel-III was found to be most efficient and profitable for farmers in the study area. Among the production and marketing constraints faced by mango growers, the shattering of flowers and premature fruit drop were cited as the most serious constraints. While alternate and irregular bearing creates glut with excess production in one year and results in low production in the next year was reported as second major constraint. Usually, contractors were not paying money to the orchard owner in the lump sum amount and at the appropriate time. Thus, the second major constraint was delayed and irregular payments to producers.