Farm size and cost efficiency of the tea growers in Assam: A dea analysis

In studying farm-size and cost efficiency association of the sample tea growers of three districts in Assam, the Data Envelopment Analysis and Tobit Regression results showed that cost efficiency declined as farm size increased for big growers. Still, for small growers, the association was positive, even though big growers were more cost-efficient than small growers. Allocative efficiency was the major cause of low cost efficiency for both, and gender, farm size, number of plots, and membership of growers’ association were significant factors of cost efficiency of small growers. Higher education was important for the big growers. The study recommended public policy interventions to improve the farming skills of female SGs and better managerial skills of big growers.