Economics of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Production and Its Development in District Kech, Balochistan Province of Pakistan

Abstract

Economics of date palm production and its constraints in District Kech, (Balochistan) was analyzed during 2012-13 using 60 date palm producers; while a good number of market agents/middlemen were also included to analyze date palm marketing. The data indicated that Turbat and Panjgoor are the districts of excellence for their high quality and remarkable date palm production; and Begum Jangi dominates in area and production, followed by Halini, Hussaini, Goknah, Dishtri, Konzenabad, Muzwati, Pashpag, Shakri and Washakar. The total estimated costs on date palm production were Rs. 225271.31/hectare which included Rs. 50903 land inputs, Rs. 66468 initial development of orchard, Rs. 76111 operational costs and Rs. 31789.31 marketing costs. Among initial orchard development costs, purchase of date palm suckers was the item of highest cost, followed by the farmyard manure and ploughing charges. The total land inputs including land rent and land tax accumulated to Rs. 50903/hectare. Among marketing costs the transportation charges were the highest amount of costs. The overall average date palm fruit yield was estimated at 77.29 maunds per hectare. The date palm yield was higher in trees aging 10-20 years; while Washakar variety fetched highest sale price, followed by Begum Jangi, Konzenabad and Goknah, while hydrated form of dates (Chhuhara) is mostly prepared from Halini variety. The income from date palm per hectare was estimated at Rs. 286745.90 against total costs Rs. 225271.31 resulting net returns of 61474.59 per hectare, resulting cost: benefit ratio of 1:1.27. The marketing analysis indicated that total price spread was Rs. 3500.00 per maund while the product reached in the hands of ultimate consumer. The middlemen (Wholesalers and commission agents) and retailer earned marketing margins of 31.68 and 24.69%, net margin 75.23 and 85.34 %, markup 46.36 and 32.78 %. The retailer shared 42.10 paisa of the consumer’s rupee, middlemen (wholesaler and commission agents) 35.86 paisa; while the producer shared the lowest (22.04 paisa) of the consumer’s rupee. The retailer earned 5.82 rupees (CBR=1:5.82), middlemen (wholesaler and commission agents) 3.03 rupees (CBR=1:3.03) and date palm grower earned 0.27 rupee (CBR= 1:0.27) on payment of one rupee cost. Among constraints, farm to market infrastructure and high transportation costs were the problems of rank-1 faced by 100 percent of the growers. Market facility to growers, quality seed and irrigation water, lack of date processing unit and cold storage were rank-2, rank-3 and rank-4 problems, respectively. The quality pesticides and high fertilizer and FYM price and timely availability were the problems at rank-5, while training of date palm growers for production and post-harvest handling and non-existence of soil testing facilities were the problems of low ranking.

Keywords: Date Palm, Production and Development