International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 299-311 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 304 Table 3 Comparison of costs for various agricultural inputs between small and large producers for mixed cropping (per hectare) Variables Overall (N=90) Small producer (N=50) Large producer (N=40) Mean difference t-value p-value Mixed mini-tiller cost-NRs/ha 750 (1605.79) 739 (978.73) 759 (1980.13) 19.30 0.05 0.955 Mixed bullocks cost-NRs/ha 14577 (7355.06) 17042 (7874.74) 11497 (5293.36) -5545.09*** -3.81 0.001 Mixed organic manure cost-NRs/ha 65048 (36679.25) 75819 (44586.32) 51585 (15424.48) -24233.17*** -3.28 0.001 Mixed chemical fertilizer cost-NRs/ha 19711 (6968.24) 19594 (8309.16) 19857 (4901.36) -0.002 0.00 1.00 Maize seed cost-NRs/ha 12544 (4774.77) 10787 (2380.97) 13949 (5688.70) 3162.58*** 3.29 0.001 Mixed pesticide cost-NRs/ha 3073(1960.62) 3758 (2299.62) 2217 (878.61) -1541.52*** -4.00 0.001 Mixed potato tuber cost-NRs/ha 24320 (13527.46) 21035 (4838.09) 26948 (1725.39) 5913.07 2.10 0.39 Mixed irrigation cost-NRs/ha 5210 (5143.46) 7591 (5884.01) 2235 (728.95) -5355.37*** -5.71 0.001 Mixed transportation cost-NRs/ha 2504 (609.29) 2231 (285.33) 2722 (707.31) -1245.47*** -11.83 0.001 Mixed storage cost-NRs/ha 1075 (861.84) 716 (623.83) 1362 (922.12) 645.64*** 3.78 0.001 Mixed labour requirement cost-NRs/ha 44526 (26975.43) 27991(10097.99) 57755 (28961.42) 2976.13*** 6.199 0.001 Note: *** indicate significant at 1% level For mixed chemical fertilizer, the overall average was 19,711 NRs/ha (SD=6,968.24), with small producers at 19,594 NRs/ha (SD=8,309.16) and large producers at 19,857 NRs/ha (SD=4,901.36), showing no significant difference. The maize seed cost averaged 12,544 NRs/ha (SD=4,774.77), with small producers at 10 787 NRs/ha (SD=2,380.97) and large producers at 13,949 NRs/ha (SD=5,688.70), showing a significant difference. For mixed pesticide costs, the overall average was 3,073 NRs/ha (SD=1,960.62), with small producers spending 3,758 NRs/ha (SD=2,299.62) and large producers 2,217 NRs/ha (SD=878.61), showing a significant difference. The mixed potato tuber cost averaged 24,320 NRs/ha (SD=13,527.46), with small producers at 21,035 NRs/ha (SD=4,838.09) and large producers at 26,948 NRs/ha (SD=1,725.39), showing no significant difference. For mixed irrigation costs, the overall average was 5,210 NRs/ha (SD=5,143.46), with small producers at 7,591 NRs/ha (SD=5,884.01) and large producers at 2,235 NRs/ha (SD=728.95), with a significant difference. The mixed transportation cost averaged 2,504 NRs/ha (SD=609.29), with small producers spending 2,231 NRs/ha (SD=285.33) and large producers at 2,722 NRs/ha (SD=707.31), with a significant difference. The mixed storage cost averaged 1,075 NRs/ha (SD=861.84), with small producers at 716 NRs/ha (SD=623.83) and large producers at 1,362 NRs/ha (SD=922.12), showing significant difference. Finally, mixed labour requirement costs averaged 44,526 NRs/ha (SD=26,975.43), with small producers at 27,991 NRs/ha (SD=10,097.99) and large producers at 57,755 NRs/ha (SD=28,961.42), showing significant difference. Overall, small producers generally incurred higher costs for organic manure and labours, while large producers had higher costs for several inputs like transportation and irrigation. 3.4 Compared the costs of various agricultural inputs of solo cropping The analysis showed that the overall average costs for various inputs (Table 4). For solo mini-tiller costs, the overall average was 875 (SD=1,972.02), with small producers averaging 758 (SD=999.61) and large producers averaging 968 (SD=2,499.61). The solo bullock cost had an overall average of 14,453 (SD=7,749.05), with small producers at 16,818 (SD=8,598.00) and large producers at 11,497 (SD=5,293.36); showing significant difference.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==