TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF PADDY PRODUCTION IN FLUORIDE AFFECTED AND NON-AFFECTED LOCALES OF TAMIL NADU

The objective of the study is to estimate the technical efficiency of paddy farmers in western zone of Tamil Nadu. Cross sectional data were collected by using a multistage random sampling method of about 128 farmers of low fluoride affected, moderately fluoride affected, highly fluoride affected and non fluoride affected locales in the proportion of sample size. Analysis employed for the study is stochastic frontier production function and the results revealed that the mean technical efficiency of paddy production has been found as 86 per cent, 87 per cent, 84 per cent and 89 per cent in less, moderately, highly fluoride affected locales and non-affected locale, respectively. The results identified that farmers of non-affected locale do not have much scope to increase the productivity of paddy under the existing conditions of input use. In fluoride affected locales, the yield of paddy could be improved to the extent of 14 per cent, 13 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively by adoption of better technology. The coefficient of phosphorous has been observed negative and significant in affected and non affected locales, indicating over use of phosphorous fertilizer lead to fluoride contamination in groundwater and decline in paddy yield. The study suggests for construction of farm ponds to recharge groundwater and to give awareness to farmers about fluoride contamination in groundwater.