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Economics for quality seed production of berseem ( Trifolium Alexandrinum

Linn.)

Article · January 2017

DOI: 10.5958/0976-4615.2017.00039.4

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Vikas Kumar Dr Satyapriya

Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute Indian Agricultural Research Institute
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Prog. Agric. 17 (2) : 221-226 (2017) Society for Recent Development in Agriculture
DOI : 10.5958/0976-4615.2017.00039.4 Website : www.progressiveagriculture.in

ECONOMICS FOR QUALITY SEED PRODUCTION OF BERSEEM

(TRIFOLIUM ALEXANDRINUM LINN.)
Vikas Kumar, Satyapriya, Maharaj Singh and D. Bahukhandi
Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi-284003, Uttar Pradesh, India

E-mail : vyadav21@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Fodder is found as one of the important constraints in rearing the animals. Purchasing fodder and then
feeding to the animals is not found economical. Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum Linn) is an important
fodder crop and the quality seed of is in great demand in the market especially from the northern India. It
is very high yielding fodder crop and can give 1000 to 1100 quintals of green fodder in one season only. 5- 6
cuttings of green fodder can be taken from it. The cost of production analysis of Berseem was done at
IGFRI Jhansi with the commercial variety Wardan in the year 2010 and 2011. The rate for pure seed was
considered as Rs 100 per kilogram in year 2010 and Rs 120 per kilogram in year 2011. First cost of
production is calculated over individual farms then the data are converted into per hectare basis. The share
of variable cost and fixed cost n total cost is 79.54 percent and 11.37 percent respectively. The average total
cost is found as Rs 45616.65 per hectare. Average ungraded seed production was 202.50 kg . The average
rate of ungraded seed is found as Rs 85.79 per kilogram. The total quality seed come out is 164.12 kg and
the total of waste seed as 30.93 kg and 8.76 kg as straw. The average total return is found as Rs 69036.96 per
hectare and the total cost after processing is Rs 46430.44. The average net return is found as Rs 26262.14
and the benefit cost ratio as 1.57. The benefit cost ratio calculated on variable cost basis is 2.00. Thus, it is
clear from the study that if there is market for the sale of green fodder derived from various cuttings, the
Berseem seed production is highly profitable.

Key words : Berseem seed production, Cost of cultivation, Benefit- cost ratio, Fodder production

quality on production potential. Thus, assurance of

INTRODUCTION
Berseem is an important crop of winter season and is
popular both for milch and draught animals. The
fodder is available for fairly long period during winter,
spring and early summer. It is a very nutritious,
succulent, palatable and high yielding valuable
leguminous crop. It has a cosmopolitan adaptability
and diverse quality. It is therefore aptly called as king
of fodder crops for irrigated regions of north India (3).
Berseem appears to have originated from Asia Minor
and Egypt. At present it is grown in number of
countries in world as pasture and cultivated fodder
crop. It is very high yielding fodder crop and can give
1000 to 1100 quintals of green fodder in one season
with 5- 6 cuttings of green fodder (4). Because of high
yielding nature, it is grown over the vast area and its
seed has huge demand in the market. The timely
availability of seed to the farmers helps in timely
sowing and realization of its full potential as fodder.
The prices of seed fluctuate drastically during
harvesting and sowing . There is also an impact of seed
quality seed ensures high green fodder yield also.
Thus, it is important to study the cost of production of
Berseem seed for taking the advantage of higher
demand in the market.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The cost of production analysis of Berseem was done
at IGFRI Jhansi with the commercial variety Wardan in
the year 2010 and 2011. 3 fields were selected for the
study. The fields were prepared first by one cross
harrowing followed by cultivator for good tilth. After
making strips, puddling was done and was sown by
broadcasting method.
The seed rate was 20 kg per hectare and 100 kg DAP
was applied as basal dose. Irrigation was provided
through canal or diesel tubewell as and when required.
Three cuttings of green fodder were taken by manual
labour till the first week of March. Two rougings were
done and then harvesting by sickle. After harvest, the
crop was pooled in the field and threshing was done
 Kumar, et al.

Table-1 : Operation wise cost expenses on per hectare basis.

Operation wise cost of cultivation ( Rs/Ha)

Operations Season 1 Percent Season 2 Percent Average Percent

Field preparation 1554.43 3.41 1469.50 3.22 1511.96 3.31
Draft power hours 4.30 3.93 4.12
Draft power variable cost 985.41 2.16 902.49 1.97 943.95 2.07
Total Labour Mandays 4.45 4.43 4.44
Total Labour cost 569.02 1.25 567.01 1.24 568.01 1.25
Manures and fertilisers 3504.78 7.70 3645.58 7.98 3575.18 7.84
Manure cost 2415.18 5.30 2535.58 5.55 2475.38 5.43
Fertiliser cost 1019.61 2.24 1040.00 2.28 1029.80 2.26
Total Labour Mandays 0.55 0.55 0.55
Total Labour cost 70.00 0.15 70.00 0.15 70.00 0.15
Irrigation 5545.51 12.18 5522.13 12.08 5533.82 12.13
Tubewell hours 46.06 45.56 45.81
Tubewell variable cost 2145.51 4.71 2122.13 4.64 2133.82 4.68
Total Labour Mandays 26.56 26.56 26.56
Total Labour cost 3400.00 7.47 3400.00 7.44 3400.00 7.45
Weeding 7000.00 15.37 7000.00 15.32 7000.00 15.35
Total Labour Mandays 54.69 54.69 54.69
Total Labour cost 7000.00 15.37 7000.00 15.32 7000.00 15.35
Green fodder Cutting 9000.00 19.76 9000.00 19.69 9000.00 19.73
Total Labour Mandays 70.31 70.31 70.31
Total Labour cost 9000.00 19.76 9000.00 19.69 9000.00 19.73
Rouging 2557.54 5.62 2558.66 5.60 2558.10 5.61
Total Labour Mandays 19.98 19.99 19.99
Total Labour cost 2557.54 5.62 2558.66 5.60 2558.10 5.61
Harvesting 3200.00 7.03 3200.00 7.00 3200.00 7.01
Total Labour Mandays 25.00 25.00 25.00
Total Labour cost 3200.00 7.03 3200.00 7.00 3200.00 7.01
Threshing 680.26 1.49 789.72 1.73 734.99 1.61
Draft power hours 1.04 1.66 1.35
Draft power variable cost 180.26 0.40 289.72 0.63 234.99 0.52
Total Labour Mandays 3.91 3.91 3.91
Total Labour cost 500.00 1.10 500.00 1.09 500.00 1.10
Total Working capital 35153.95 77.20 35296.72 77.24 35225.34 77.22
Interest on WC 1054.62 1058.90 1056.76
Total variable cost 36208.57 79.52 36355.62 79.56 36282.10 79.54
Fixed cost and other overhead charges 187.50 187.50 187.50
Rental value of land 5000.00 10.98 5000.00 10.94 5000.00 10.96
Total fixed cost 5187.50 11.39 5187.50 11.35 5187.50 11.37
TVC+TFC 41396.07 90.91 41543.12 90.91 41469.60 90.91
Management & Risk 4139.61 9.09 4154.31 9.09 4146.96 9.09
Total Cost 45535.68 100.00 45697.43 100.00 45616.56 100.00

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Economics for quality seed production of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum Linn.)

Table-2 : Item wise cost distribution on per hectare basis.

Item wise cost of cultivation ( Per hectare basis)

Season 1 Season 2 Average percent
Draft power
Draft power hours 5.33 5.60 5.47
Draft power cost 1165.66 1192.21 1178.94 2.58
Labour power
Total mandays 206.12 206.11 206.12
Total Labour cost 26383.76 26382.56 26383.16 57.84
Seed cost 2000.00 2000.00 2000.00 4.38
Manures and Fertilizers 3434.78 3575.58 3505.18 7.68
Irrigation
Tubewell hours 46.06 45.56 45.81
Tubewell cost 2145.51 2122.13 2133.82 4.68
Plant protection chemicals 24.24 24.24 24.24 0.05

Total Working capital 35153.95 35296.72 35225.34 77.22

Interest on WC 1054.62 1058.90 1056.76 2.32
Total variable cost 36208.57 36355.62 36282.10 79.54
Fixed and other overhead cost 187.50 187.50 187.50 0.41
Rental value of land 5000.00 5000.00 5000.00 10.96
Total fixed cost 5187.50 5187.50 5187.50 11.37
TVC+ TFC 41396.07 41543.12 41469.60 90.91
Management &risk 4139.61 4154.31 4146.96 9.09
Total Cost 45535.68 45697.43 45616.56 100.00

Table-3 : Cost and Return and B: C ratio at farm level (Rs per hectare basis).

Return analysis at farm for ungraded seed ( Per hectare basis)

Season 1 Season 2 Average
Gross return at farm, Rs 61647.96 76425.97 69036.96
Total cost, Rs 45535.68 45697.43 45616.56
Net return, Rs 16112.28 30728.54 23420.41
B:C ratio on total cost basis 1.35 1.67 1.51
B: ratio on variable cost basis 1.70 2.10 1.90

with thresher. The raw produce was then processed
through processing machine and pure seed was
produced. The variable cost and fixed cost were
calculated for different machines used and multiplied
with hours for which they used to find the expenditures
incurred on them (Kumar, 2009). The labour rate was
taken as Rs 128 per manday of 8 hours. The charges for
canal are taken as Rs 300 per year. The rate of green
fodder was taken as Rs 100 per quintal and for dry
fodder Rs 300 per quintal and for screen reject derived
during processing as Rs 600 per quintal. The rate for
processed seed was considered as Rs 100 per kilogram
in year 2010 and Rs 120 per kilogram in year 2011.
The total working capital shows the total variable cost
incurred on various operations. The total variable cost
is calculated by adding three percent interest to total
working capital. The addition of all the fixed cost,
overhead cost and rental value of land gives the total
fixed cost. The rental value of land was considered as
that prevailing in the locality (Rs 10000/ha). The
management and risk was considered as ten percent of
total variable and fixed cost. The cost of cultivation
data were calculated for every stage of crop growth.

223
 Kumar, et al.

Table-4 : Returns from the processing.

Returns from processing (per ha)

Sn. No. Items Season 1 Seaosn 2 Average

A Ungraded, Kg 155.33 249.67 202.50
Rate 76.27 95.32 85.79
Value 11853.36 23796.37 17824.86
Post harvest cost 801.37 826.39 813.88
Total cost 12654.73 24622.76 18638.75

(a) TFL seed, kg 125.03 203.21 164.12

Rate 100.00 120.00 110.00
Value 12503.30 24385.56 18444.43

(b) Waste seed, kg 24.23 37.63 30.93

Rate 6.00 6.00 6.00
Value 145.36 225.75 185.55

(c) Straw, kg 6.07 11.45 8.76

Rate 1.00 1.00 1.00
Value 6.07 11.45 8.76

Total returns from processing 12654.73 24622.76 18638.75

Table-5 : Total cost and return in seed production (per hectare).

Total cost and return in seed production (per hectare)

Season 1 Season 2 Average

Cost of cultivation 45535.68 45697.43 45616.55553
Processing 801.37 826.39 813.8836222
Total cost 46337.05 46523.82 46430.43916

TFL seed, kg 125.03 203.21 164.123

Rate/kg 100.00 120.00 110
Value 12503.30 24385.56 18444.43

Waste seed, kg 24.23 37.63 30.9255

Rate/kg 6.00 6.00 6
Value 145.36 225.75 185.553

Straw, kg 1100.68 1741.05 1420.865167

Rate/kg 3.00 3.00 3
Value 3302.03 5223.16 4262.5955

Green fodder, kg 48700.00 50900.00 49800

Rate/kg 1.00 1.00
Value 48700.00 50900.00 49800

Total return from production 64650.69 80734.47 72692.5785

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Economics for quality seed production of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum Linn.)

Table-6 : Returns analysis and Benefit Cost ratio analysis for seed production.

Benefit cost ratio analysis

Season 1 Seaosn 2 Average
Total return after processing 64650.69 80734.47 72692.58
Total cost of seed production 46337.05 46523.82 46430.44
Net return 18313.64 34210.64 26262.14
B:C ratio on total cost basis 1.40 1.74 1.57

Fig-1 : Operation wise cost of cultivation ( per hectare Fig: 4: Itemwise cost distribution (Rs per hectare)
basis)

Fig-2 : Expenditure under different operations of total

cost (per ha)
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
First cost of production is calculated over individual
farms then the data are converted into per hectare basis
and presented in Table 1 and shown in Figure 1 and 2.
The Table one shows the operation wise expenditure
for the crop. The average expenditure incurred on field
preparation is Rs 1511.96 per hectare that comes to
3.31 percent of total cost. The average draft power
used per hectare is 4.12 and average mandays used is
4.44 per hectare. The average expenditure per hectare
made on manures and fertilizers is Rs 3575.18 that
comes to 7.84 percent of total cost. The use of labour is
Fig: 3: Cost parameters in total cost (per ha)
less as the manure cost includes the transportation and
spreading cost both. The average cost incurred on
tubewell hours is Rs 2133.82 per hectare and the
average use of tubewell was 45.81 hours per hectare
per season. The average total mandays used for
irrigation is 26.56. The average expenditure made on
weeding is Rs 7000 per hectare and the average
mandays used for weeding is 54.69. Three cuttings are
taken for green fodder and the average total mandays
used are found as 70.31. The total expenditure made on
cutting the green fodder is Rs 9000.00 per hectare. Two
rougings are performed and the average total mandays
used for rouging are 19.99 per hectare and the cost

225

incurred on that is Rs 2558.10. The total expenditure
incurred on harvesting is Rs 3200 which is done
manually by sickle. The total mandays used in
harvesting is 25.00 per hectare. The average total
expenditure incurred on threshing is Rs 734.99 per
hectare and the involvement of total labour mandays
are 3.9. The average total working capital is found as
Rs 35225.34 per hectare (Fig. 3). The average interest
on working capital is Rs 1056.76. The total variable
cost is found as Rs 36282.10. The rental value is taken
as Rs 5000 per hectare as this is found prevalent in the
locality. The total fixed cost is found as Rs 5187.50 per
hectare. The share of variable cost and fixed cost n total
cost is 79.54 percent and 11.37 percent respectively.
The average total cost is found as Rs 45616.65 per
hectare.
Item wise cost of cultivation on per hectare basis is
presented in Table 2. The average draft power used per
hectare is 5.47 hours. The variable cost incurred on
draft power is Rs 1178.94 per hectare. The average
total labour mandays used per hectare are 206.12. The
labour mandays used are higher as there are number of
operations that are dependent mostly on labour only
like weeding, rouging, green fodder cutting and
harvesting. The average total expenditure incurred on
labour is Rs 26383.16 which is 57.84 percent of total
cost of cultivation (Figure 4). The expenditure
incurred on seed purchase is Rs 2000.00 per hectare
which is 4.38 percent of total cost. The total
expenditure incurred on manures and fertilizers is Rs
3505.18 per hectare which is found as second highest
in total cost that is 7.68 percent. The average total
expenditure on tubewell is Rs 2133.82 per hectare.
Thus the highest expenditure in percentage term is
incurred on labour followed by manures and fertilizers
and tubewell cost.
On per hectare basis the average ungraded seed
production was 202.50 kg . The average rate of
ungraded seed is found as Rs 85.79 per kilogram. It is
calculated by deducting the cost of processing from the
pure seed received. The total value of ungraded seed
has been found as Rs 17824.86 and if add the green
fodder produced also, and then the total return from
farm has come to Rs 69036.96. The average benefit
cost ratio at farm only is found as 1.51. The benefit cost
Received : December, 2016; Revised : February, 2017; Accepted : May, 2017
Kumar, et al.
ratio calculated on variable cost basis is found as 1.90.
It is this value that is visible to farmers as other fixed
costs are hidden.
From the average of 202.50 kg of ungraded seed, the
total quality seed come out is 164.12 kg and the total of
waste seed as 30.93 kg and 8.76 kg as straw. The
average cost of processing is found as Rs 813.88 (
Table 4). The total returns from both fields and
processing comes to Rs 72692.58 per hectare. The
average green fodder production is 498 quintal per
hectare (Table 5). The average total return is found as
Rs 69036.96 per hectare and the total cost is Rs
46430.44. The average net return is found as Rs
26262.14 and the benefit cost ratio as 1.57 ( Table 6).
The benefit cost ratio calculated on variable cost basis
is 2.00. Thus, it is clear from the study that if there is
market for the sale of green fodder derived from
various cuttings, the Berseem seed production is highly
profitable. In case, there is no use of green fodder, the
crop can be sown late but it should have at least one
cutting for green fodder. The price of Berseem seed
varies in the market form Rs 80 per kilogram to Rs 160
per kilogram, the farmers can take the advantage of
high price during the sowing season, so they are
advised to sell the seed during the sowing season.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors are grateful to the Head of Seed Technology
Division and Director, IGFRI for providing necessary
research facilities for this study.
REFERENCE
1. Kumar, V. (2009). An Economic Analysis of Cost of
Production of Paddy In Different Farm Size Groups,
Plant Archives Vol. 9 No. 1, 2009, 197-198
2. Kumar, V. (2009) Assessment of Marketing Charges and
Price-Spread under Different Channels in Marketing of
Wheat, Plant Archives Vol. 9 No. 1, 2009, 171-172
3. Mukherjee and Maiti (2009) Annual –leguminous winter
crop Berseem or Egyptian clover, Book on Forage Crops,
Production and Conservation, 2009, Kalyani
Publication,106-117
4. Thomas, C.G. (2008) Berseem crop. Book on Forage crop
production in tropics. 2008, Kalyani publication,
195-198.
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Economics for quality seed production of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum Linn.)

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 Kumar, et al.

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