Technical efficiency in finger millet and paddy crop in southern Karnataka

This study, conducted in the southern Karnataka specifically focus on progressive (Tumakuru district) and less progressive (Ramanagara district) areas with an objective of understanding the technical efficiency of paddy and finger millet. The popular technical efficiency benchmarking tool within agricultural research are parametric (Stochastic Frontier Analysis, SFA) or non-parametric (Data Envelopment Analysis, DEA). There were no differences in mean scores of technical efficiency of paddy in progressive (0.86) and less progressive area (0.85). But in case of finger millet, progressive area farms (0.76) were technically more efficient than the less progressive farms (0.57). Eighty-three and seventy-seven percent of obtained yield and potential yield was primarily due to factors which are under the control of farmers, respectively. This clearly indicates the importance of agriculture extension in promoting adoption of technologies and its potential in improving yield and income of farmers.