Efficiency & Productivity Analysis of Cropping Sector of South Asia: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The factors impacting the technological efficiency of cash and staple crop production in South Asian countries are investigated in this study. With the worldwide food crisis and impending food inflation, the importance of agriculture and its impact on social welfare is highlighted. A meta-analysis of published research articles from 2000 to 2022 finds that the agricultural industry in South Asia has an overall technical efficiency of 76%. In descriptive analysis three models are used such as methodological model, crop-wise model and countries wise model. In empirical analysis first two models are estimated through OLS, Tobit and Truncated regression analysis. In this study 95 articles published on South Asian cropping sector i.e. wheat, rice, sugar-cane and cotton have been selected for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis findings suggest substantial untapped potential in South Asia's farm sector, highlighting a need for development. To maximize the efficiency of present growth programms, the government must carefully analyze and redirect them. By doing so, the agriculture sector may attain its maximum productivity while also contributing to the region's general agricultural development.