Comparative Analysis of Resource use Efficiency of Livestock-based Farming Systems in Saline and Normal Areas of West Bengal

Abstract

Salinity has deleterious effects on both crops and livestock. The present study evaluated the impact of salinity on livestock-based farming systems by comparing the economics in saline and normal areas of West Bengal. The study also identified the factors affecting gross revenue in production function framework using CD function and resource use efficiency of different livestock-based farming systems. This will help the policy makers to frame policies enhancing livelihood in saline areas and help the farmers to adapt the ideal farming system. In saline area, S2 (1.116) and S3 (1.399) had increasing return to sale. In case of S2 farming system, both concentrate and veterinary services and for S3 concentrate, veterinary services and seed were under used and increasing their level to a optional level will raise the gross revenue. In normal areas, N1 (1.4045) farming system showed increasing return to scale and also there is a scope for further use of fodder, veterinary services and fertilizer efficiently. Based on both resource use efficiency and return to scale S2 should be recommended for landless farmers and S3 for land holders in saline areas and N1 farming system should be recommended for the farmers in normal areas.