Factor Inputs Use and Farm Productivity on Different Farm Categories in the Punjab

The question of relative farm efficiency, reflected by variousproductivity indices, under different farming situations andarrangements such as farm size and tenure, has been the focus ofattention of development economists for a long time. It is also a matterof considerable interest and concern for the politicians and policymakers, especially, in developing countries striving to in¬crease theirfarm production. Empirical studies under traditional agriculturalcon¬ditions [4, pp.815-34] indicated higher output per acre obtainingon small farms as compared to large farms because of intensivecultivation practised on the small farms. With the introduction of"Green Revolution" technology the debate about the distribution of gainsof new technology and its impact under different farming situations hasassumed special significance. Under increasing popula¬tion pressure,deteriorating land man ratio in most of the developing countries andrapidly changing agricultural environments, it is important to know howdifferent farm categories compare with each other in terms of theirfactor inputs use and farm productivity in order to chart out a courseof action for increasing farm output. This paper using micro level farmdata compares the use of various factor inputs and farm productivityprevailing on different farm categories. These data relate to 1972-1973cropping year and were collected through a field survey in which 192farmers operating farm area of upto 50 acres and located in 16 villagesof Gujranwala and Sahiwal districts of the Punjab were interviewed.* Itis hoped that the analysis attempted here will be of some help inproviding guidelines for agricultural development in theprovince.