Resource Allocation Efficiency of Gram in Maharashtra

The study has examined the changes in resource-use levels and their efficiency in gram and also changes in costs and returns structure of this crop in Maharashtra. The zone-wise cross sectional data of two points of time, viz. 1991–92 and 2008–09, have been used for estimating the resource-use efficiency. The study has revealed that use of N and P fertilizers in gram has increased, while that of bullock power and seed has fallen. The use of manure has shown a wide gap of 93 per cent because of lack of availability of manures in Maharashtra. In 199192, the independent variables like bullock labour, manure and N have been found positively significant, i.e. these variables were major contributors to yield, whereas in 2008–09, manure, P and other working capital have been observed to be significant. The MVP of bullock labour and N fertilizers for gram in 1991–92; and human labour, manure, P fertilizer and other working capital in 2008–09 were higher than the unit costs. The per hectare total cost of cultivation and gross profit have been observed to increase by 261 per cent and 245 per cent over the base year, respectively. The B:C ratio of gram during both the periods has been found more than unit, indicating that gram cultivation is a profitable venture.