Growth dynamics of cost of cultivation in major paddy growing states of India

Abstract

In India's main paddy-growing regions, the cost of cultivation is a critical factor that forms the basis for marketing decisions. The present analysis was carried out using secondary data provided by The Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) for the years 2004–05 to 2021–22. In the study, changes in input intensity and input cost components were examined alongside the growth aspects of the cost of paddy cultivation in India's major paddy-growing states. The study reveals differences in the costs and levels of paddy input usage among the five selected states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The cost of inputs for cost of cultivation factors is rising between 2004–05 and 2021–22. Aside from the cost of animal labour, the costs of other inputs like as manure, fertilizer, and machine labour have gone up over time. Along with a decline in the amount of labour used as an input over time, there has also been an increase in the cost of labour input. There was less use of human and animal labour in Punjab because of the region's high level of mechanization. In West Bengal, labour is still used more often for agricultural purposes.