Comparative economic analysis of organic versus inorganic paddy cultivation in Karnataka state

Organic farming has the potential to provide beneits in terms of environmental protection, conservation of non-renewable resources and improved food quality. But it needs to overcome challenges like low yield during the initial years of conversion and government support to help farmers in the production as well as marketing process. Thus, the present study was conducted in the TBP command area comprising Raichur, Ballari and Koppala districts during the year 2023-24. A sample of 270 respondents was selected purposively from the selected three districts. The major indings of the study revealed that the total cost of organic paddy cultivation was similar or less than that of inorganic (transplanting) paddy cultivation and higher than DSR method of paddy cultivation. The average cost of cultivation of organic paddy was Rs. 48765.0 as against Rs. 48987.87 and 41187.00 on transplanting and DSR paddy cultivation. The cost of chemical fertilisers and cost of plant protection chemicals on inorganic paddy were the differing factors in the cost. In the total cost, variable costs accounted for a major share. The proportion of variable cost was Rs. 33455.69, Rs. 33427.87 and Rs. 25964.0 for organic, transplanting and DSR paddy, respectively. The share of ixed cost in total cost of cultivation of organic paddy and transplanting and DSR paddy was Rs. 15310.0, Rs. 15560.0 and 15223.0, respectively. Among the items of ixed cost, the rental value of the land had a maximum share in the total cost of cultivation on both organic and inorganic conditions. The per-acre average yield of organic paddy (main product 18.90 quintals and by product 0.94 TL) was far lower than that of inorganic paddy of transplanting method (main product 29.40 quintals and by product 1.10 TL) and DSR method of paddy cultivation (main product 28.32 quintals and by product 1.00 TL).