Srivastava, S.K.Jakhar, Anjali2019-01-312019-01-312018-08http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810093104Increasing agricultural output is essential for the growth and food security of developing countries like India, where agriculture is the main stay of the economy. The country cannot depend too much upon new and growing supplies of inputs, therefore, the country will have to depend heavily upon improvements in the productive efficiency of factor inputs for future agricultural growth. The present study was undertaken to evaluate performance of major crops of the western region and Divisions (Meerut and Aligarh) in the state of Uttar Pradesh over the period from 1995-96 to 2014-15 to examine the total factor productivity (TFP); growth and variation in TFP, area, production and productivity, and technical efficiency in major crops. Total factor productivity was estimated using Tronquist Theil index and the spatial and temporal growth rate and variation in TFP, area; production and productivity were examined using exponential growth function and Coefficient of Variation, respectively. Technical efficiency of major crops under different farm size groups was examined for the region using Stochastic Frontier production function for the year 2014-15. The results revealed that the less output produced as compared to input use in paddy crop during overall period. Declining pattern observed in indices implies that all the inputs were not efficiently used in paddy production during overall period in the region. The TFP of bajra crop indicated an increasing trend during overall period in the region as well as both the divisions, but in the Aligarh division this increase is found with higher magnitude compared to Meerut division and western region. In the western region it fluctuated during overall period due to climatic and non climatic factors. It is observed that wheat crop is more labour intensive, resulted in fluctuating total factor productivity during the overall period. The total factor productivity of sugarcane crop increased during overall period in both the divisions and as well as in western region, indicated that productivity increased with high magnitude due to efficient utilization of inputs in production process and technological support. Growth rate and variability in total factor productivity of major crops increased during overall period with high magnitude in the region and both the divisions as compared to I (1995-96 to 2004-05) and II (2005-06 to 2014-15) sub periods. No any change is found in TFP of major crops during II sub period except for wheat crop wherein TFP declined, due to decrease in fertilizer consumption (in nutrient term) during II sub period as compared to I sub period. Growth rate and variability estimation in area, production and productivity of major crops in the region observed that area and production under maize crop declined during the overall period as well as two sub periods in the region and selected divisions as compared to other crops. The results of investigating technical efficiency of the sample farm households under sugarcane, wheat and bajra crops indicated that output produced was less than the potential output to the extent of about 13 per cent, 23 per cent and 19 per cent in sugarcane, wheat and bajra, respectively. On overall basis, however, much variation observed across farm size groups. In recent past no growth in TFP of the selected crops viz., paddy, bajra, maize and sugarcane, while decline in TFP of wheat crop besides its stagnant productivity poses serious threat to the food security for the burgeoning population. This situation calls for technological breakthrough and proper implementation of farm support policies in all the major crops to increase the total factor productivity. This also suggests special attention to wheat crop, the main staple food of the western region of Uttar Pradesh, as its TFP has decreased in the recent past. Extension and infrastructural development may support farmers for application of balanced fertilizer, besides achieving potential output in major crops across the farm size groups in the region.ennullThesis