An Analysis of Total Factor Productivity Growth of Chick Pea in Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The analysis was carried out for Maharashtra, across three sub-periods (Period I (1991-92 to 2000-01), Period II (2001-02 to 2010–11) and Period III (2011-12 to 2020-21) for 30 years. Four major cereals and four major pulses were selected for study. Using farm-level cost of cultivation data, input, output and TFP indices were estimated through the Tornqvist–Theil growth accounting approach and analysed across three sub-periods.The chickpea production growth in Maharashtra was predominantly efficiency-driven rather than input-led. Over the overall period, the output index grew at 0.73 per cent per annum, while input growth remained marginal (0.18 per cent), resulting in a positive TFP growth of 0.55 per cent per annum. Period-wise analysis showed positive TFP growth in all sub-periods, with the highest growth during Period III (2011–12 to 2020–21), indicating strong technology-led and efficiency-oriented productivity improvements. On average, TFP accounted for about 24.06 per cent of output growth, highlighting the critical role of non-input factors such as technological progress and improved resource use. Regression results indicated that road length had a significant positive influence on TFP growth, while excessive fertilizer use and higher tractor intensity exerted a negative and significant effect, reflecting inefficiencies in input use. Other factors such as irrigation, rainfall and agricultural credit showed positive but statistically insignificant impacts. The study concludes that sustained productivity growth in Chick Pea cultivation in Maharashtra has been largely driven by technological innovations, improved management practices, release of drought-tolerant varieties and infrastructural development rather than increased input use.