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Technical and Groundwater Use Efficiency in Wheat-Maize Cropping Pattern: An Evidence from Bari Doab, Punjab Pakistan
Abstract
In Pakistan, the agricultural production chain depends on multiple factors, out of which irrigation is considered as the primary input. With the passage of time, this country’s resource base is diminishing rapidly and adversely affecting the rural economy. To cope with the demand of the expanding population, efficient utilization of this resource is crucial. This study aims to examine the relationship between technical efficiency and groundwater use efficiency in the wheat-maize cropping pattern from Central Punjab, Pakistan. For this purpose, the Depalpur distributary was selected from Bari doab. Primary data from 214 farmers of Okara district (Central Punjab) were collected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Various factors affecting technical and groundwater use efficiency were investigated using the Tobit model (Bootstrap truncated). Results indicated that wheat and maize farms were achieving higher level of technical efficiency (0.94 & 0.92, respectively) than groundwater use efficiency levels (0.63 & 0.64, respectively). The results suggested that improving groundwater efficiency could decrease excessive extraction of groundwater consequently achieving higher returns from wheat and maize remaining on same level of groundwater. Tobit analysis indicated that education status of farmers, farmer experience, agricultural extension services and ownership of tube well would result in achieving higher level of technical and groundwater use effeciencies.
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DOI: 10.33687/ijae.013.03.5726
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