Impact of natural resource conservation technology on productivity and technical efficiency in rainfed areas of Southern India

Abstract

This paper assessed the impact of natural resource management technology (NRCT) on productivity and efficiency in maize production using an endogenous switching regression model in rainfed areas of Southern India. We also identified factors influencing adoption of NRCT, and technical efficiency in maize production. For this study, plot-level primary data from 303 farm households cultivating maize on 419 plots were collected. Results show that adoption of NRCT has resulted in an increase in maize productivity by 490 kg per ha and has also reduced technical inefficiency by 28% as compared to non-adopters. Furthermore, access to credit, better extension services and training on natural resource management are crucial factors positively affecting the adoption of NRCT as well as enhancing the technical efficiency of maize production. Therefore, these factors need to be considered when formulating policies and programmes that aim to improve crop productivity in rainfed areas, as well as sustaining natural resources.

Keywords:

• Adoption
• conservation technology
• technical efficiency
• impact

Acknowledgements

This paper is drawn from the first author’s PhD Research work entitled “Economics of Soil and Water Conservation: A Case Study of Drought Prone Areas of Karnataka” conducted at the Division of Agricultural Economics, ICAR—Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi, India

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2022.2114320

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by NAHEP, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, grant No. NAHEP/CAAST/2018-19/07.