Author(s):

Sarang Monga and Baljinder Kaur Sidana

Abstract: Coarse cereals provide food security for both people and livestock. The total factor productivity growth of maize, jowar and bajra in major producing states of India was measured through data envelopment analysis (DEA) based Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) for the period 1994-95 to 2015-16. The area share of coarse cereals in total cereals has declined from 32 to 25 per cent during study period. Maize has shown positive growth rate in area whereas jowar and bajra showed negative growth rate in study period. Among coarse cereals, maize and bajra crop witnessed total factor productivity growth of 2.6 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively during overall period whereas jowar witnessed negative TFP growth of -0.2 per cent. The study revealed that the increase in the TFP growth was mainly due to enhancement in technological progress rather than the efficiency growth. TFP growth were higher in second period i.e. 2005-06 to 2015-16 as compared to first period i.e. 1994-95 to 2004-05. Giving priorities to research in low value cereals crop like maize, jowar and bajra and sound strategies of production with ecological balance is the only way forward to meet the food sustainability and nutritional security concerns of millions. Upsurge in agricultural investments, especially in agricultural research, is instantly needed to stimulate growth in TFP.

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