Organization Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (Karnataka), India

Year 2011

A study was carried out to assess the pattern of input use and employment in hybrid sunflower seed production under contract farming in Haveri district of Karnataka. Seed production activity is considered as one of the options for increasing the employment in rural areas. The results of the study revealed that seed growers used recommended seed rate. However, the application of organic manure (17 t/ha) was more than two times of its recommended level. In case of chemical fertilizers the extent of their use was lower than the recommended dose. The human labour was predominantly used in seed production out of which majority (67%) were hired labours. The poor input use suggests that there is need to educate the farmers by contracting agencies. Therefore, to increase employment to rural people as well as income level to farmers, seed production under contract farming may be encouraged with appropriate legal and institutional set up.