Economic Impact of Biotech and Nanotech Approaches in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Cultivation

Chickpea cultivation plays a vital role in India's agricultural economy, yet it faces challenges like low yields, high input costsand environmental concerns. Emerging biotechnological and nanotechnological approaches offer potential solutions to enhance productivity and sustainability in legume cultivation. This study evaluates the economic and environmental impacts of these technologies in comparison to conventional farming methods.

The research aims to assess the impact on yield, cost-efficiencyand income distribution using a combination of propensity score matching (PSM), cost-benefit analysis (CBA), environmental externality valuation, regression analysis, stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and Lorenz curve analysis. Data were collected from 300 chickpea farmers, divided between adopters and nonadopters of advanced technologies. PSM was used to control for selection bias and isolate the true effect of adoption.

The results showed that adopters of biotechnological and nanotechnological methods achieved 33% higher yields (1.6 tons/hectare vs. 1.2 tons/hectare) and a 60% increase in net returns (₹ 48,800 vs. ₹ 30,500 per hectare) compared to nonadopters. Input costs for labour, fertilizersand pesticides were lower for adopters, with environmental savings of ₹ 1,800 per hectare. The benefit-cost ratio (BCR) was also higher for adopters (2.56) than non-adopters (2.03), reflecting the economic benefits of these technologies. Technical efficiency was superior among adopters, with a score of 0.82 versus 0.68 for nonadopters. Income distribution was more equitable among adopters, with a Gini coefficient of 0.32 compared to 0.45 for nonadopters. Scenario analysis suggested that a 90% adoption rate could generate an additional ₹ 17,000 per hectare in revenue and ₹ 16,200 in environmental savings, demonstrating the potential for enhanced economic and environmental sustainability in chickpea farming.