Total factor productivity growth of cashew research in Konkan region of Maharashtra

The total factor productivity indices of cashew estimated using the Tornqvist index for the period 1998–99 to 2017–18. TFP index was promising. It indicated that the inputs were efficiently allocated in cashew plantation. TFP increased at 3.13 percent per annum. During the same period, the output index grew by 2.18 percent per annum and the input index declined at the rate of 0.92 percent per annum. The improvement in the total factor productivity may be due to non-input factors such as research investment and extension efforts. The results indicated that research investment (0.23), rainfall (0.84), road density (0.56) and rural literacy (1.62) had significantly contributed to TFP growth in cashew.