Is there any role of technological inputs? A district-wise analysis of output differential in crop sector

Abstract

An investigation is performed to analyse the impact of technological inputs accompanied with traditional inputs over different periods of time on the output differential of four major crops including Wheat, Rice, Cotton and Sugarcane. Data related to different districts of the Punjab province have been used to conduct the study. A multivariate statistical analysis is applied for this purpose, in which principal component (factor) analyses is carried out as a first step to reduce the dimensionalities in the data and to obtain the ranking of districts in two phases of time i.e., 1971-75 and 2001-05. Further analysis is made by developing indices on the basis of few selected top and low ranked districts four each; along with one more district as a special case due to pronounced improvement in its ranking. Technological inputs showed consistency and significant contribution towards crop output over the time with some district wise differentials.