Resource productivity and marketing of litchi in Dehradun District of Uttarakhand

The study analyses the cost and returns of litchi production in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand which is the second largest area under litchi after Bihar. Out of 13 litchi growing districts most important nucleus of litchi cultivation is in around the Dehradun district. More than 80 per cent of orchards were in bearing age. The average area under litchi was 0.38, 1.10 and 3.22 hectares in small, medium and large group respectively. However, the total area under litchi at overall level was 1.57 hectares. In order to estimate the factors responsible for productivities and thereby to establish relationship between the yield of litchi and independent variables, Cobb Douglas type of production function was fitted to the data and the results revealed that 50 per cent of variation in the output was jointly explained by the independent variables. The regression coefficient of human labour, manures, fertilizers, irrigation per hectare, machine and bullock labour were positive and significant. The ratio of MPV to MFC in case of human labour (2.97), fertilizers (0.84), irrigation (5.87) and bullock and machine labour (0.99) indicates that an additional investment of one rupee in these resources gives returns of Rs.2.97, Rs. 0.84, Rs.5.87 and Rs.0.99 respectively. Regarding marketing of litchi, it can be that 80.8 per cent farmers used the channel I, 15 per cent farms used the channel II and 4.2 per cent of farms used the channel III to dispose off their litchi.