Contribution of agricultural research to TFP growth of cumin crop in Gujarat

The study has examined the TFP growth and its sources for cumin in Gujarat from 1990–91 to 2011–12. The Tornqvist Theil index has been used to calculate the output index, total input index and TFP index. The results reveal that during 2000s, area, production and yield of cumin increased at a remarkable rate of 6.83, 12.46 and 5.26% per annum, respectively. Higher growth rates in output indices (2.13%) and moderate growth rates in TFP indices (1.48%) were registered during the study period This growth was driven by high yielding varieties, viz., Gujarat Cumin-1 in 1982, Gujarat Cumin-2 in 1992, Gujarat Cumin-3 in 1998 and Gujarat Cumin-4 in 2003 and adoption of proper agronomic practices as well plant protection measures. Investment on cumin research generated higher returns of 74.90%. This indicates that cumin can play a vital role in increasing farm income. The sources of productivity growth indicated that government expenditure on agricultural research and extension and development of groundwater as well as canal irrigation have positive and significant impact on TFP.