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Abstract
Sesamum, once an important oilseed crop, has been loosing its importance
on the cropping map of the state agriculture, owing to favourable
production and marketing environment for other crops like paddy. The
study has reported the trends in area, production and yield of sesamum,
its relative profitability, factors affecting productivity and various
constraints inhibiting its growth in the state. The area under sesamum that
had declined over the years, has shown a little progress due to oilseeds
development programmes, initiated by the Govt. during late-1980s. On the
comparative economics front, sesamum has been found to provide lower
returns as compared to paddy. The benefit cost ratio of sesamum has been
found to be 1.36 which shows its profitability in absolute terms, but
compared with its competing crop, it is much lower. The state average
productivity of the crop has been almost stagnant over the years, reflecting
inadequate research efforts for the upliftment of sesamum in the state. The
regression analysis has brought out that sesamum productivity can be
enhanced by spending more on plant protection measures and human
labour for pesticide spray. Major biotic constraints faced by sesamum
growers have been identified as diseases and pests, while lack of irrigation
and drought have been the major abiotic constraints. To give a boost to
the sesamum cultivation in the state, two-dimensional efforts, viz
technological upgradation and effective market support are required.