ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF COST, RETURNS, PROFITABILITY AND MARKETING CHANNELS, PRICE SPREAD OF PEARL MILLET PRODUCTION IN BEED DISTRICT OF MAHARASHTRA STATE

   The investigation was carried out during the year 2020-21 on economics of production and marketing of pearl millet in Beed district of Maharashtra State. The multistage sampling method adopted in selection of district, tehsils, villages and selection of pearl millet growers. The 60 pearl millet producers were chosen for the research. The data was analysed using techniques such as mean percentage, ratio and cost concept of cost-A, cost-B, and cost-C. The  per hectare cost of cultivation was i.e cost C was ₹ 39439.9 in which cost-A was ₹ 27073.26 and cost-B was ₹ 38176.48. The output-input ratio was 1.25. The net profit was 10192.09 and per quintal cost of production was ₹ 2321.70. The Ambajogai and Dharur markets were selected for marketing of pearl millet .The marketing channel-І having producer- consumer, in which the marketing cost of producer was ₹ 36.41 and price spread was ₹ 36.41. The channel-ІІ was producer- village retailer -consumer. In which the marketing cost was ₹87.66 and price spread was ₹ 289.66. The channel-ІІІ that is producer-wholesaler-retailer-consumer. In which marketing cost was ₹ 232.65 and price spread was ₹ 504.33.