Economic analysis of green pea production in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra

Introduction

Green pea (Pisum sativum L.) belongs to the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae) and has a chromosome number of 2n = 14. It is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region and is an important leguminous crop cultivated worldwide for its nutritional and economic value. Pea is also renowned for its genetic significance due to the pioneering work of Gregor Mendel, which laid the foundation of modern genetics. The crop has been cultivated for centuries in temperate regions and has adapted well to diverse climatic conditions. In India, pea is grown as a winter crop in the plains of North India and as a summer crop in the hilly regions, with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar being the leading producers. Its short duration and suitability for multiple cropping systems make it an important crop for crop diversification. Field pea is an important nutritional and economically valuable crop, particularly for lowincome populations. It is popularly regarded as "poor man's meat" because of its affordable source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and prebiotic carbohydrates. (Amarakoon et al, 2012). Green pea seeds are rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and saponins, which contribute to their therapeutic potential. These compounds possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, making green pea an important functional food. Pea consumption is also associated with improved digestive health and a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. Regular consumption of peas may contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases and improvement of overall health (Rungruangmaitree and Jiraungkoorskul, 2017) [6] . Furthermore, pea pods obtained from mature fresh green peas are rich sources of dietary fibre, protein, and calcium and possess higher nutritional value than broad bean and okra pods. The incorporation of 20% pea pod powder into biscuits has also been reported to produce highly acceptable products in terms of consumer preference (Garg, 2015) [4] . Pea plants possess a strong and well-developed taproot system, while the majority of their finer roots remain concentrated in the upper layers of the soil (Dhillon et al., 2022) [3] . These roots establish a symbiotic association with beneficial soil bacteria, particularly Rhizobium leguminosarum, resulting in the formation of root nodules. These nodules facilitate biological nitrogen fixation by converting atmospheric nitrogen into forms that can be utilized by the plant, thereby supporting plant growth and contributing to improved soil fertility. To ensure effective nodulation and nitrogen fixation, pea seeds are generally treated with Rhizobium leguminosarum before sowing, or the inoculant is applied directly to the soil. Root nodules generally begin to develop within two weeks after plant establishment. Effective nodulation is important for maintaining healthy plant growth, whereas inadequate nodulation may result in symptoms such as pale green or yellow leaves and stunted growth (Sharma et al., 2025). India's pea production increased from 5,848.00 thousand MT in 2020 to 6,670.60 thousand MT in 2024, while its contribution to global pea production increased from 28.71 to 30.69 per cent (APEDA, 2024). The increasing production and market importance of the crop highlight its potential as a remunerative agricultural enterprise. However, the profitability of green pea cultivation depends largely on efficient utilization of production resources and effective management of cultivation costs. Therefore, farmlevel economic analysis is essential to assess the cost structure, returns and profitability of green pea cultivation. In this context, the present study was undertaken in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra to analyse the cost of cultivation, returns, profitability and input-use pattern of green pea across different farm-size groups.

Methodology

The study was undertaken to assess the production of green pea in Ahilyanagar district using both primary and secondary sources of information. Primary data for the Kharif season 2025-26 were collected from selected green pea growers through personal interviews using a structured questionnaire. The information covered farmers' general characteristics, input utilization, cost of cultivation, and major constraints related to production. Ahilyanagar district was purposively selected considering its significant contribution to green pea cultivation and production in Maharashtra. Among the tehsils, Parner and Sangamner were selected purposively owing to their larger area under green pea cultivation. Village-wise information on the area under green pea cultivation was obtained from the concerned Tehsil Agriculture Officers, and three villages from each selected tehsil were selected based on the cultivated area. Accordingly, Parner, Kanhur Pathar and Karandi from Parner tehsil, and Malegaon Pathar, Sarole Pathar and Nandur Khandarmal from Sangamner tehsil were selected. Farmers were randomly selected and classified according to the area under green pea cultivation into small (below 0.20 ha), medium (0.21-0.40 ha), and large (above 0.41 ha) farmsize groups. Five farmers from each farm-size group were selected from each village, resulting in 15 farmers per village and a total sample of 90 farmers. The cost structure was also influenced by the input-use pattern of the sample farmers. Seed and farmyard manure were used below the recommended levels, whereas chemical fertilizers, particularly nitrogen, were applied in excess of recommended doses. Higher expenditure on chemical fertilizers, machine power, hired labour and plant protection inputs contributed to the overall cost of cultivation. The relatively lower use of farmyard manure may be attributed to its bulky nature, limited availability and higher transportation and handling costs. Overall, the findings suggest that improving input-use efficiency and adopting balanced input application could help reduce the cost of production and improve the economic efficiency of green pea cultivation. The details regarding resource utilization in green pea cultivation are presented in Table 3 Overall, the B:C ratio of 1.54 indicated that every ₹1.00 invested in green pea cultivation generated ₹1.54 in gross returns. The positive net return of ₹92,697.40 per hectare further confirmed the economic viability of the crop. The findings were broadly in agreement with Pandey (2018) [5] , Singh et al. (2020) [7] . and Tripathi et al. (2015) [8] , who also reported the profitability of green pea cultivation and the importance of efficient resource use and improved production practices in enhancing farm returns.

Results and discussion

conclusion

The present study on the economics of production and marketing of green pea in Ahilyanagar district revealed that green pea cultivation was economically viable under the prevailing production conditions. The overall Cost 'C' was ₹1,70,113.78 per hectare against a gross income of ₹2,62,811.18, with an average productivity of 48.74 q/ha and a B ratio of 1.54. The cost of cultivation declined from ₹1,74,301.53 per hectare on small farms to ₹1,67,120.26 on large farms, indicating economies of scale. Medium farms recorded the highest return over Cost 'C' (₹96,146.80/ha) and B ratio (1.57). Resource-use analysis showed that green pea cultivation was labour-intensive, while seed and FYM were used below recommended levels and some fertilizers were applied in excess. The study suggests that efficient resource use, balanced fertilizer application and optimum use of seed and FYM can reduce production costs and improve profitability. Timely input availability and adoption of improved production practices can further enhance the economic performance of green pea cultivation. Overall, green pea has good income potential and can be promoted as a remunerative crop in Ahilyanagar district.

Policy suggestions 1. Balanced Use of Production Inputs

Efficient and balanced use of production inputs should be encouraged among green pea growers, particularly through optimum use of seed, FYM and chemical fertilizers. Balanced nutrient management and timely application of inputs can help reduce the cost of cultivation and improve productivity and farm profitability.

Labour and mechanization management

Mechanization and labour management should be improved to address the high cost and seasonal shortage of labour. Timely availability of labour and machinery, along with improved production practices and better irrigation management, can enhance resource-use efficiency and strengthen the economic viability of green pea cultivation.

References

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