PROFITABILITY OF MAIZE PRODUCTION IN DISTRICT CHARSADDA, PAKISTAN: A COMPARISON OF CONVENTIONAL AND HYBRID VARIETIES

Abstract

The study was conducted in district Charsadda, Pakistan to compare the per acre yield, cost of production and net revenue of hybrid and conventional maize varieties. For the purpose of data collection three villages viz Umarzai, Charsadda and Tangi were selected. A total of 100 respondents including 50 each for hybrid and conventional varieties were selected, using proportional allocation sampling technique. The data was collected during 2009. the per acre yield, cost of production and net revenue has been estimated at 901.33kg, Rs.12654.74 and Rs.7437.53 respectively for conventional varieties and 2384.44kgs, Rs.23877.37 and Rs.27828.59 respectively for hybrid varieties, which shows that hybrid varieties are more profitable compared to conventional varieties. Based upon the t-statistic the per acre yield, cost of production and net revenue of hybrid maize varieties has been significantly different from the conventional maize varieties. The study suggests that the hybrid maize seeds should be made available to the farmers to increase yield of maize and income of the farmers. It is also suggested that the extension department and other Non Government.Organizations should educate farmers to improve their yield and revenue through adoption of hybrid maize seeds.