PRODUCTION, MARKETING AND ECONOMIC DYNAMICS OF MANGO AT BHERIGANGA MUNICIPALITY, SURKHET, NEPAL

The present study was carried out to assess the production, marketing and economic dynamics of mango in Bheriganga Municipality of Surkhet district in 2022. Purposefully, 81 mango growers having minimum mango orchards of 1 hectare in size and 10 to 15 years old were selected. A pre-tested and standard interview schedule was employed for a household survey to collect primary data. The findings of the study revealed that mango farming has a major contribution to household income. Dashari variety of mango was very popular among farmers and gradually changed the production system from subsistence to market oriented. The mango growers in the study area contributed an average NRs 189286.4 in cost of production/ha with average productivity of 11383.2 kg/ha. Gross revenue and net incomes were 628352.64 Rs/ha and 439066.24 Rs/ha respectively. BC ratio, profit-to-revenue ratio and input-output ratio were 2.32, 69.88 and 3.32 respectively. However, all the findings revealed with mango production were significant, but marketing is not well-organized, and the prices offered by each channel vary. In addition, farmers were more likely to exclude from market information due to long value chains, a lack of transparency and the presence of too many players. Despite serious irrigation, disease and insect problems, farmers were still able to produce a significant number of mangoes. However, due to the monopolized market system of middlemen and negligible efforts for value-addition practices, farmers were forced to accept lower farm gate prices while retail prices of those products were high. It was necessary to strengthen the marketing system, establish processing industries, and mobilize resources to give more negotiating power to the farmers because there was so much potential for value addition.