Performance of Pickle Production Processing and Marketing in Sindh Pakistan

Pickle products are packed in polythene bags then are placed in the Glass bottles or bucket. The pickle producers in Shikarpur area on average spent a total cost of production of Rs.1575700.00 in the Rs.607500.00 raw material cost, Rs.320900.00 packaging material cost, Rs.536000.00 human resource cost and Rs.130000.00 marketing cost respectively on capital inputs. The selected pickle producers in Shikarpur area on average revenue generate of Rs. 2350000.00 and pickle net income per unit Rs.1340700.00, Rs.2350000.00 gross income and Rs.1575700.00 total expenditure respectively in the study area. The pickle production unit gross income Rs. 2350000.00 and total expenditure is Rs.1575700.00 in the study area therefore they availed input output ratio of 1:1.49 and pickle production unit net income Rs. 774300.00 and total expenditure Rs.1575700.00 in the study area therefore they availed input output ratio of 1:0.49 respectively in the study area.

Pickling process in India differs from other regions mainly due to additional spice mixture added to them post anaerobic fermentation. Pickles are main side dishes and many varieties of vegetables are used. However, raw mango or tender mango is the most popular variety of fruit used for pickling. There are multiple varieties of mango pickles prepared depending on the region and the spices used but, broadly there are two types of -whole baby mango pickle or cut mango pickle. Whole baby mango pickle is a traditional variety very popular in Southern India and uses baby mangoes that are few weeks old. There are special varieties of mangoes specifically used just for pickling and they are never consumed as ripe fruit. Baby mangoes are pickled and added with spice mixture in a very careful process which ensures pickles are preserved for years (Verma et al. 2012).
Keeping in the view competitiveness of Shikarpur district Sindh province of Pakistan pickle production processing and marketing, the study was conducted with the following specific objectives.

Objectives
1. To describe socio-economic status of pickle producers in the study area. 2. To study the economics of production and marketing in Shikarpur Sindh. 3. To identify issues and suggest policy measures for promoting on pickle production in the study area.

Methodology
The Shikarpur district of Sindh province was selected purposively for the present study because it is largest pickle producers it is one of the district within Sindh province in terms of pickle production. The district Shikarpur is situated in the northern part of Sindh Pakistan. The summers are very hot and the winters are mild to cold.

Data Collection
This study was used the primary data in present study. Primary data was collected from sample of 60 respondents. A list of pickle producers of each selected producers were prepare selection was made on proportional random sampling method. They were purposively selected from Shikarpur district Sindh.

Secondary Data
Secondary data collected from various Government departments used to determine the overall growth rate of pickle production. The Secondary data was collected from literature and publication including report, research papers etc.

Economic analysis Estimation Methods
Data were analyzed by developing equations for estimating fixed costs, variable costs, total cost of production, total revenue, net revenue Input-Output ratio and benefit cost ratio. A brief description of each term is given as follows:

Estimation of factory inputs
For estimation of factory inputs for pickle on the sample unit, the following formula was used.

Results
This chapter provides results of the study including current status of pickle production practices and issues of pickle producers. Pickle has always been in consistent demand in the subcontinent as a compulsory add-on to be served with food. This indicates that there is a substantial potential for this business. Age   Table-3 shows that pickle 30.00 percent respondents were Up to 10 years experience, 45.00 percent respondents were 11-20 years and 25.00 percent respondents were above 26 years in the study area.  Table-5 shows that 86.00 percent of the respondents were make mango oil pickle, 46.00 percent of the respondents were make lemon oil pickle, 73.00 percent of the respondents were make mixed oil pickle, 76.60 percent of the respondents were make mango vinegar pickle, 33.30 percent of the respondents were make lemon vinegar pickle 16.60 percent of the respondents were make chilli vinegar pickle and 25.00 percent of the respondents were make other pickle in the study area. Product pack/ weight Kg 32 Table-6 shows that pickle product will first be packed in polythene bags which will then be placed in the Glass bottles or bucket. Therefore, polythene bags requirement would be equal to the number of bottles and buckets produced.   Table-9 shows that overall total raw material cost incurred towards various product was estimated and observed to be Rs.607500.00 followed by Rs. 307500.00 in Mango/ Chilli/Garlic/Lime, Rs.4000.00, Rs.98000.00, Rs.51000.00, Rs.15000.00, Rs.48000.00, Rs.24000.00, Rs.60000.00 in salt, Chilli (Red), Saunf, Methi Seeds, Kalongi, Rai and Cooking oil for the production in the study area.  Table-10 shows that overall total packaging material cost incurred towards various product was estimated and observed to be Rs.320900.00 followed by Rs.150000.00, Rs.120000.00, Rs.15000.00, Rs.15000.00, Rs.14400.00, Rs.6000.00, Rs.7500.00, Rs.8000.00 in glass bottles/ polythene bags 330 gram, glass bottles/ polythene bags 450 grams, Glass bottles/ polythene bags 1 kg, Glass bottles/ polythene bags 1.8 kg, Polythene bags 5 kg, Bucket 16 kg and Bucket 32 kg for the production in the study area. 134000.00 Grand total Rs. 134000.00 x 4 months season of production = 536000.00 Table-11 shows that overall total human resource cost incurred towards various products was estimated and observed to be Rs.134000.00 followed by Rs.25,000.00, Rs.15000.00, Rs.24000.00, Rs.35000.00, Rs.30000.00, Rs.5000.00 in owner /manager, supervisor, machine operators, packaging staff, workers and watchman respectively. Table-12 shows that marketing cost spent a sum of Rs.130000.00, this included Rs.22500.00 for loading, Rs.85000.00 for transportation and Rs.22500.00 of unloading respectively on marketing cost in the study area.  Table-13 shows that the selected pickle producers in Shikarpur area on average spent a total cost of production of Rs.1575700.00 in the Rs.607500.00 raw material cost, Rs.320900.00 packaging material cost, Rs.536000.00 human resource cost and Rs.130000.00 marketing cost respectively on capital inputs. Rs.1575700.00 total expenditure respectively in the study area.  Table-16 shows that pickle production unit gross income Rs. 2350000.00 and total expenditure is Rs.1575700.00 in the study area therefore they availed input output ratio of 1:1.49 respectively in the study area.

Conclusion and suggestions
The research study on an analysis of pickle production processing and marketing in Shikarpur district Sindh was concluded for the findings during study were the most efficient to produce the pickle at profitable level. The industrial infrastructure is the web of personal, economic, social and legal relationships that support the production of pickle commodities. It includes, most visibly, input suppliers and output processors. However, it also includes the formal and informal business relationships between individual farms.
Shikarpur district is a main pickle production processing and marketing area in Sindh Pakistan. Thus, the district can have a potential to produce more pickle for demand of growing population, there is also need for study the efficient pickle production and issues in the production process for policy making.
In our survey we found that pickle consumption is very popular in Sindh Pakistan and with the exception of one respondent rest all the respondents consume some or the other type of pickle. We also found that in spite of availability of readymade pickles the popularity of homemade pickles has not decreased. Thus there is large market for pickle producing units which goes untapped because people go for homemade pickles. We also found that that popularity of mango pickles is fairly consistent among the respondents with almost onethird preferring mango pickles. Communication and sharing of knowledge on interventions in production, processing and utilization of pickle and pickle by products is recommended • Pickle companies should more aggressively tap the Mango pickle and Lemon pickle segment. • Packaging of 250 gms should be produced by the companies as it contains optimum quantity which is sufficient for a nuclear family of 3-4 people. • As consumers are educated and well aware now a days, they are very health conscious and hence nutritional value, manufacturing and expiry date should be mentioned on the packaging very clearly. • Companies should aggressively advertise coupled with effective sales promotions for improving customer recall and brand image. • Good packaging, proper oil content, certification from food agencies etc. should be maintained to give customers a home -made taste and push him to buy from market rather than making at home. • Attempt to manage human resource cost should be focused through performance measurement and performance based compensation. • Encouraging training and skill of self & employees through experts and exposure of best practices is route to success. • Small business loans should be provided on soft and simple terms and conditions to producers.