Yield growth and the role of inputs and policy variables influencing the yield: A crop-wise study for West Bengal

The present paper measures yield rates and the impact of liberalization policies on yield growth of seven major crops - Aus, Aman, Boro, Jute, Wheat, Mustard, and Potato - in West Bengal, India, over the period 1980–81 to 2002–03. A multivariate regression analysis is also, done to find the crop-specific determinants of yield which includes some crop-specific factors and some policy parameters also. Presence of inter-crop disparity in yield growth rate is evident from the study. factors like various forms of public expenditure, Gini coefficient, credit facilities and infrastructures like roads & state warehouses are found to have positive effects on yield growth for different crops. However, the set of significant factors varies from crop to crop.