Resource productivity and resource use efficiency in cashewnut production

Abstract

Investigation was carried out during the year 2013-14. In all 48 cashewnut growers were randomly selected from sixteen villages of two tehsils in South-Goa district of Goa State. Cross sectional data were collected from cashewnut growers with the help of pretested schedule by personal interview method. Data were related to cashewnut outputs and inputs like machine labour, manure, fertilizers, irrigation and family human labour as resources. Cobb Douglas production function was fitted to the data. The results revealed that, regression co-efficient of area under cashewnut was 0.278 followed by that of machine labour (0.052). In next order, regression coefficient of potash was 0.008 followed by irrigation (0.139). Regression co-efficient of manure, nitrogen and family human labour were positive but non-significant. Marginal product of area under cashewnut was 6.431 quintals followed by that of machine labour (0.129 q), family human labour (0.035 q) and manure (0.129 q) and so on. MVP to price ratio with respect to machine labour was 2.28 followed by area under cashewnut (1.86), family human labour (1.61), potash (1.49), nitrogen (1.25), irrigation (1.19) and manure (1.16). Hence, preference might be given to increase machine labour on priority basis in cashewnut cultivation. Optimum resource use of area under cotton was 1.26 hectares and that of irrigation was 5505.50 m 3 .