Optimizing Resource Use Efficiency for Sustainable Paddy Production in South India – A Regional Study

Thomas Felix Kannan¹Padma Lakshmi Govindarajan^2*Rashtrarakshak R¹

• ¹Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, India
• ²Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India

This study investigated Resource Use Efficiency (RUE) in paddy production across South Indian states. Utilizing secondary data from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW), Government of India for the period 2022-23, the research employed Cobb-Douglas production function analysis and RUE evaluation to compare yields, labor dynamics, fertilizer usage, and seed application among the five states. The key findings reveal significant regional disparities in paddy productivity and input efficiency. Telangana has emerged as the most productive state with efficient input-output relationships, while Kerala lagged in productivity despite their high input usage. The analysis identifies widespread underutilization of critical inputs, including fertilizers, seeds, and irrigation across most of the states, in contrast to the excessive use of labor resources. State-specific findings highlight the need for tailored interventions such as improving the labor and seed rate efficiency in Kerala, better fertilizer management in Tamil Nadu, and increased mechanization in Andhra Pradesh to enhance the paddy productivity. The quantitative results highlight the extent of input underutilization and labor overuse across states. The key policy implications include investments in irrigation infrastructure, promotion of balanced fertilizer application, adoption of good quality seeds, increase in mechanization, and implementation of region-specific policies to optimize input use and ensure sustainable paddy production. These findings underscore the importance of targeted, state-specific strategies to enhance paddy productivity in South India.