Performance of Major Millet Crops in Tamil Nadu-An Economic Analysis

The present study has analysed the performance of major millets in Tamil Nadu in terms of growth rates, instability and decomposition analysis of area, production and productivity of major millets during the period 1970–71 to 2011–15. The study period was divided into period I (1970 to 1991) and period II (1991 to 2015). The study has shown that growth rates in area and production for most of the millet crops were negative, except in maize. The instability indices have revealed that during the periods I and II, the instability was high. The differentiation occurs in millet production due to the area for most of the millet crops, and area and productivity for some millet crops. Thus there is an immediate need of appropriate policies to increase the area under millet crops in Tamil Nadu to increase the millet production and hence farmers’ income.