Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

A STUDY OF DETERMINANTS OF MARKETED SURPLUS OF APPLE IN NAINITAL DISTRICT OF UTTARAKHAND

K. S. Parihar, Amita Maurya, Pradeep Joliya, and Anil Kumar

Abstract

Horticultural crops play an important role in human nutrition, preventing diseases and contributing to the nation’s development and prosperity. Uttarakhand is known for its horticultural crops, which include fruits, vegetables, off-season vegetables, loricultural crops, medicinal and aromatic plants. In temperate zone of the state, only kharif crop is taken due to very cold climate. Thus, agriculture in this part of Uttarakhand is characterized by subsistence farming. Horticulture is one of critical sectors in the economy of the hill state of Uttarakhand. In this paper an attempt was made to study the marketing of apple in Nainital district of Uttarakhand for the year 2011-12. Primary data were collected from sixty growers. Information regarding marketed surplus was taken and analysed. It was found that average total production of apple was 16.77 quintals per farm with average farm-level retention of 0.71 quintals per farm making marketed surplus of 16.06 quintals per farm. The results of regression analysis on marketed surplus of apple depicted that area under apple, price received by growers and distance of orchards from motor road were the major factors significantly influencing the marketed surplus. Area was the most dominant factor for marketed surplus revealing that one unit hectare increase in area of apple could result in an increase of about 27.6 quintal in the marketed surplus of apple. The study has suggested to improve transportation and regulated market yard facilities to increase marketed surplus.