Application of DEA onKharif onion productivity in Maharashtra

Abstract

It is essential to know how well the resources are being used and what possibilities exist for improving the efficiency of cash crops production. In this context, the present investigation has been undertaken to estimate the technical, allocative and economic efficiency and subsequently to investigate the determinants of technical, allocative and economic inefficiency of Kharif onion in western Maharashtra. The TE under CRS for small farms of Kharif onion indicated that on an average the small farmers are able to reduce the consumption of inputs by 11.8 to 8.6 per cent but the medium farmers are able to reduce the consumption of all inputs by 10.00 to 3.8 per cent as compared to 7.1 to 4.2 per cent reduction of inputs by the large farmers group. The reduction in input cost for large farms has been found to be Rs. 30 to Rs. 36 for land, Rs. 770 to Rs. 4088 for seed, Rs. 832 to Rs. 1077 for N, Rs. 335 to Rs. 1207 for P, Rs. 8916 to Rs. 11694 for hired female labour, Rs. 1917 to Rs. 2844 for hired male labour Rs. 151 to Rs. 219 for mechanical labour, Rs. 840 to Rs. 2085 for organic manure, respectively. Total reduction of cost is Rs. 12630, Rs. 21850 and Rs. 19466 for the years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09, respectively by using a new cost efficient input mix. The policy implications from the study suggested that there is a need to reduce the gap in the use levels of manure and fertilizers and optimum use. It means there is scope to increase the use of manures and fertilizers for augmenting the average productivity. Optimum utilization of all other resources by the farmers will have to be ensured for higher production by passing on the crop production technologies to them by using the effective extension measures like regional extension centers, district extension centers,Agri-clinic centers etc coupled with effective purchasing power through certain economic measures like credit supply, subsidy, etc.