Business in producing the quality seed of dinanath grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum trin.)

Dinanath grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin.) seed has high demand from the agencies like NGOs and Forest department that want to increase the fodder production from all non-arable lands for sustainable animal production. The research was initiated to find the cost and benefit in growing the quality seed of Dinanath grass in IGFRI, Jhansi for the year 2010 & 2011. The average total cost was found as Rs 36180.59 per hectare and the gross return was Rs 162969.73 per hectare. The benefit cost ratio at farm level was found as 4.48 and the benefit cost ration over variable cost was found as 5.86 at farm level. The cost of quality seed production was 15.99 per kg when both by product and main product are sold or utilized and when only main product is utilized and by-product is discarded the cost of production of seed per kg was found as Rs 53.88. Keeping the demand in market and the price of the main product in mind, it is found that there is huge benefit in production of Dinanath grass seed. The higher production of quality seed in market will bring the price down and that also helps in spread of grass and improves the availability of fodder from non-arable lands.