Impact of maize dryer on production vis-à-vis marketing of Kharif maize in Punjab: A discriminant analysis

The present study was carried out to examine the feasibility of newly installed maize dryer technology in the Punjab state. The primary data was collected from about 120 farmers (comprising 60 users and 60 non-users) selected through multistage random sampling technique of maize dryer technology from two districts, in which maize dryer units have been installed, one at Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar and the other at Hoshiarpur district. The results showed that net benefits received from maize dryer plant were negative in short run, but significant amount of returns could be generated in the long run. The production pattern showed the average productivity of maize was marginally higher among user farmers. The marketing pattern revealed that marketing cost was very high among user farmers than that of non-user farmers in the study area. This was due to high weight loss and processing charges. The results further revealed that the net benefits of using maize dryer were very discouraging and the non-users of maize dryer obtained 8.16 per cent higher net returns over users in case of kharif maize. The discriminant analysis revealed that marketing cost was the most important factor that significantly discriminates the users of maize dryer from non-users in the study area. Taking into account the major problems of maize dryer technology in the state, low processing charges, remunerative prices for processed maize, optimum moisture content, optimizing the capacity per lot, storage facilities, etc were some of the suggestions given by the sample respondents for improving the functioning of the maize dryer in the state.