Farm Level Efficiency of Pulses Production in Maharashtra: A Data Envelopment Analysis

Abstract

Pulses plays vital role in economical and agricultural development of India due to its export competency and protein content factor so cultivation of the same is responsible for generation of employment, export revenue and rural development. It is important to know the relationship between inputs and output in cultivation practices of pulses crops therefore present study is designed to evaluate the efficiency of pulses production in Maharashtra. Primary data was taken from farmers belonging to major pulses producing districts of Maharashtra.  The input oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was applied to estimate allocative efficiency of the farms. The study revealed that 101 farmers has found highly efficient who is having greater than 90 per cent efficiency where as rest of the farmers had categorized in to efficient, moderately efficient and less efficient classes along with efficiencies in accordance with conversion of inputs to outputs. The results of the study would be helpful to farming community and policy makers to to maximize pulses production by optimum use of available resources.