Resource Efficiency of Winter Paddy Cultivation by the Tenant Farmers in the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam

Abstract

As a predominantly agricultural state, Assam’s economy heavily relies on agriculture. Paddy cultivation is one major crop produced in Assam and Brahmaputra Valley in particular. The region’s unique agroecological conditions and the prevalence of tenant farming methods have been considered, along with a comprehensive understanding of resource utilisation and productivity status. The Cobb Douglas production function has been applied to determine resource use efficiency. The information of sample data for the present research study has been gathered from a total of 225 tenant farmers, considering the tenant farmer’s availability in the villages concerned. Analysis has been conducted on the efficiency of resources, such as seeds, fertilisers, machine use, plant protection and human labour. It is observed from the findings that, except for human labour and machine use, the input resources such as seed, fertilisers and plant protection were being under-used by tenant farmers for paddy cultivation.