Production, Marketing and value addition of finger millet in hilly area of Kolhapur District

The area, production and productivity of finger millet in Maharashtra was 966 thousand hectares, 1008 thousand tones and 1043 Kg/ha during the year 2014–15. This study was under taken following specific objectives viz, costs and returns of finger millet, marketing and value addition of finger millet. Kolhapur district is purposively selected for study because maximum area under Radhanagari and Panhala tahsils was under hilly area out of the 12 tahsils two tahsils Radhanagari and Panhala purposively selected for study purpose. In two 45 each samples selected on the basis of highest area under finger millet. The total sample consists pertained to the year 2016–17 for the purpose of value addition each tahsil one SHG Group is selected for collection of information of value added product. The major items of cost of cultivation of finger millet was Interest of fixed capital (29.70) rental value of land (23.38), male and female fired labour was (6.12) percent and other items re negligible contribution to the cost C. The per hectare gross income received Rs. 53181 and cost C generated to Rs 40161 and margin received to the farmer was Rs 13020. The profit at cost A was Rs 36913, cost B was Rs.15722 and cost C was Rs. 13020 respectively. Per farm finger millet production was 10.07 and quantity sold in channel I was 2.79 and channel II it was 3.61 quintals. The per quintal total marketing cost of channel-I was Rs. 62.35 and in channel it was Rs. 183.45. The producer share in consumers rupees was found to be 94.66 percent in channel-I and 83.77 percent in channel-II, The channel-I is most profitable and high shares in consumer rupee. Therefore finger millet is profitable corp. there is need to educate the finger millet growers regarding improved production management practices. The monthly sale of malt 240 kg, Laddu 200 kg, Chakkali 150kg, Hirrihitth 50 kg Biscuits 200kg and Papad 110 kg. The selling price malt, Laddu, Chakkali, Hirrihitth, Biscuits and Papad was Rs. 80, 135, 85, 64, 90 and 85 and the net profit of malt, Laddu, Chakkali, Hirrithitth, Biscuits and Papad was 145, 135, 125, 86, 30 and 35 respectively. The highest margin of value added products like malt (145), Laddu(135), and Chakkali (125) and lowest margin was made in Hirrihitth (86) Biscutis (30) and Papad (35) respectively.