COMPARATIVE PROFITABILITY AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF COMBINE HARVESTER USER AND NON- USER BORO RICE FARMERS IN HAOR AREAS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to measure the comparative profitability and technical efficiency of combine harvester (CH) user and non-user farmers in Boro rice production. Using a simple random sampling technique, data were collected from 120 Boro rice producing farmers through face-to-face interview from Sunamganj and Netrokona districts of Bangladesh during March to April, 2023. Descriptive statistics and econometric model were used to analyze the data. The technical efficiency of combine harvester users and non-users in Boro rice farming was estimated using the stochastic frontier production function. The study's key findings demonstrated that growing Boro rice was profitable for both combine harvester users and non-users. But users of combine harvesters earned greater profits than non-users. The average total cost of Boro rice production per hectare was estimated Tk. 115506 and Tk. 123317 for combine harvester users and non-users, respectively. For users of combine harvesters, the average gross return and net return per hectare were Tk. 153279 and Tk. 37773, respectively, whereas for non-users, the average was Tk. 141362 and Tk. 18045. The estimated BCR was higher for combine harvester users (1.33) than non-users (1.15). Combine harvester users would save 75% labour (27 labourers) per hectare compared to non-users. The findings also indicate that agricultural inputs like irrigation, urea and MoP had positive but human labour, seed, TSP and DAP had negative effects on CH users in Boro rice production. For non-users of CH, land preparation and MoP had positive but TSP, DAP and gypsum had negative effects on Boro rice production. According to the estimated inefficiency model, both for CH users and non-users, education, market distance, farming experience and organizational membership had negative effects indicating these factors help reducing technical inefficiency in Boro rice farming. The above results revealed that mechanized harvesting through combine harvester contribute to save money, time and labour. Outcome of this study will help the policymakers to shape the policy interventions which in turn help to improve the production and facilitate the goal of doubling farmers’ income and productivity which is targeted at the SDG 2.3.