aDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria
bDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh
Online published on 5 December, 2018.
This paper has estimated the yield gap of cotton in Maharashtra and identified the factors responsible for it. The study used both primary and secondary data. The primary data was collected from 120 cotton farmers in four villages from Kalmeshuwa and Saona blocks in Nagpur district, Maharashtra by following multi stage sampling techniques. The secondary data on potential yield in the research station, potential yield in the demonstration plot and recommended input usage was obtained from the Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur (CICR). Our findings from yield gap analysis showed that yield gap I, yield gap II and total yield gap in the study area were 375kg/ha, 815.11kg/ha and 1190.11kg/ha respectively, implying that there is considerable l scope for increasing actual farmers’ yield and hence enhancing farm income. Results from multiple regression model revealed that educational status, farm size, seed rate gap and location of farmers were major factors influencing yield gap in the study area. The study also suggested to sensitize farmers on the unfavorable effects of excess input usage with a view to minimize yield gap.
