Economic Analysis Based on Benefit Cost Ratio Approach for Rice Varieties of Malakand Division

Different rice varieties of Malakand division were economically compared using cost benefit analysis approachduring 2014. Data was recorded on a randomly selected sample size of 50 farmers in three districts (Swat,Malakand and Lower Dir) by structured questionnaire. Rice varieties namely, Fakhre Malakand, JP5, Basmati-385, Sara Saila and Mardanai were used in the study. The total per acre paddy and straw yield of rice varietiesamounted a sum of Rs.165000 for Fakhre Malakand, Rs. 115000 for Basmati 385, Rs.110000 for JP5,Rs.104000 for Sara Saila and Rs.93000 for Mardanai. The Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) was higher for varietyFakhre Malakand having value of 3.24 and least for variety Mardanai with a value of 1.39. The varieties Basmati385, JP5 and Sara Saila presented a close value of Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) with respect to each other viz. 1.95,1.82 and 1.67 respectively. On the basis of BCR values Fakhre Malakand found to have more commercialbenefits to the farming community of the area than the other cultivated varieties.Keywords: Cost benefit ratio, Rice varieties