Resource Use Efficiency on Potato Farms in Azamgarh District of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The present study was carried out in Pawai block of Azamgarh district and five villages were selected randomly. A total number of 100 respondents were taken from the sleeted villages following the proportionate random sampling. The respondents were categorized as marginal (48), small (29) and medium (23) the data pertained to the agriculture year 2016-2017. The average holding size on overall farms was 1.553 ha and cropping intensity was 217.92 per cent. Cropping intensity was inversely related with the size of farms. The per farm average investment on overall farm came to Rs.242208.79 and maximum share was under the head of building i.e. 57.00 per cent followed by farm machinery and livestock share. The overall average cost of cultivation (C3) per hectare was Rs. 78154.62 and Gross income came to Rs. 123527.20, which offers a net income of Rs. 45372.50. Among the various resources considered under study the cost of seed showed significant relationship at 1 per cent level of probability in marginal category of farms and it was significantly associated at 5 per cent probability level in small and medium size group of farms. Another factor of production i.e. manures and fertilizer was found significantly associated with dependent variable at 1 per cent level probability in all farm situations. The sum of elasticity shows that potato cultivation was characterized as decreasing return to scale and positive value of marginal product indicate towards the further scope of expenditure on input to earn more than the cost. Problem related with hired human labour and technical knowledge were notice at 1st and 2nd rank by the sample farmers.