EXPLORING TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF MAIZE CULTIVATION IN BANGLADESH: A CASE STUDY ON CHUADANGA DISTRICT

Abstract

In recent years, maize has emerged as a lucrative crop for Bangladeshi farmers, thanks to favorable environmental conditions characterized by abundant sunshine, well-fertilized soil and adequate moisture. This comprehensive study delves into various facets of maize farming including the socio-economic profile of farmers, profitability assessment, technical efficiency analysis, identification of influencing factors and resolution of encountered challenges. Focused on six villages within Begumpur and Baka unions, located in Chuadanga Sadar and Jibannagar upazilas of Chuadanga district, the study meticulously selected a representative sample of 60 maize farmers using a multi-sampling technique. In person interviews with respondents were conducted from December 2023 to January 2024 in order to gather data for the current study. To measure technical efficiency, the Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function was employed. The bulk of maize farmers fall within the middle-aged demographic, constituting 50% of the respondents. Additionally, a significant proportion of these farmers have attained a secondary level of education. Moreover, the majority boast over a decade of experience in maize cultivation, with 41.67% reporting such tenure. Agriculture emerges as the primary occupation encompassing 88.30% of the respondents. Landholding patterns reveal that most farmers possess plots ranging from 2-5. Furthermore, irrigation practices are predominantly mechanized 83.30%. Lastly, a substantial 76,70% of respondents have not undergone any form of training. The profitability of maize cultivation was meticulously assessed through a profitability equation, revealing a total production cost of Tk. 205614.13 per hectare. Gross returns and gross margin stood at Tk. 329583.33 and Tk. 211543.70 per hectare respectively, resulting in a net return of Tk. 123969.20 per hectare. Impressively, the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) was calculated at 1.60, indicating that every Tk. invested in maize production generated Tk. 1.60 within the study area. Notably, parameters such as land preparation, pesticide cost, seed cost and human labor cost exhibited positive coefficients, with land preparation, pesticide and human labor being highly significant while seed cost was significantly affect the revenue at a 5 percent level. Further analysis revealed intriguing insights into factors affecting technical inefficiency. The inefficiency model exhibits no significant effect on technical efficiency and 38.3% farmer have technical efficiency level at 81-90%. However, despite the promising prospects, the study unearthed several challenges hampering maize production. These include labor shortages, susceptibility to natural calamities, inadequate irrigation facilities and a dearth of high-yielding hybrid maize varieties. Conclusively, the findings underscore the importance of tailored policies and programs by policymakers to address the specific needs and challenges confronting maize farmers. By doing so, these initiatives can significantly contribute to enhancing livelihoods, ensuring food security and fostering rural development within the region.