Potato Economy in India
Potato Economy in India
ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, DPS Marg, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012
ABSTRACT
India is second largest producer of potatoes in the world after China. India showed tremendous growth in potato
production during last one and half decade, however, this growth is led more by the area expansion than the yield
enhancement. For further analysis on nature of productivity growth in Indian potato sector the computation of Total
Factor Productivity (TFP) was done with the help of Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI). Year 2005 being the
inflection point in the growth in Indian agriculture was used as period break year for this study and two periods, viz.
pre-period (1997 to 2004) and post period (2005 to 2013) were considered for all analysis and descriptions. Bihar,
West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh states constitute about 74% of Indian potato production hence, these states were
assumed to represent Indian potato scenario. Except mild decline in potato productivity growth in Uttar Pradesh,
area, production and productivity growth of potato showed acceleration in post-period compared to the pre-period in
all the states. TFP improved in all the three states in post period however, in West Bengal the growth was negative
(-2.3) even in the post period. Except Bihar where efficiency change was positive (1%) in pre-period, and further
improved in post-period (2.1%), the efficiency change stagnated in all other cases. The TFP improvement in all the
cases was either solely or mainly led by the technical change.
Key words: Data envelopment analysis program (DEAP), India, Malmquist productivity index (MPI),
Potato, Technical change, Total factor productivity (TFP)
Significance of potato crop was rightly assessed by producing countries. Share of India and China both in potato
FAO (2008) before declaring 2008 as the International Year area and production has increased (Scott and Suarez 2011,
of Potato and indicating potato as future crop for fighting 2012) from the year 1997 to 2013 through the year 2005,
hunger and poverty. Impending food and nutritional security while share of Russian Federation for both these attributes
challenges in India and related policy implications have been has gone down. However, the trend growth rate for potato
aptly emphasized in various studies (Acharya 2009, Bhavani production during initial 13 years of 21st century was the
et al. 2010, Chand and Jumrani 2013, Kesavan 2015). Role highest in India followed by China and Russian Federation
of potato as food and income security crop for the global (Table 1).On productivity front, although India has grown
poor in general and the residents of developing countries significantly, yet the growth rate is much lower than that
in particulate, was adequately documented by Thiele et al. of the area during this period of time. Higher contribution
of area expansion than productivity enhancement in the
(2010) and Singh and Rana (2013).
potato production growth scenario in India indicates that
Being the second largest producer, India occupies
changing Indian socio-economic scenario is generating
a prominent position on global potato map (Scott and
higher demand for potato (Singh et al. 2014, Rana 2015).
Suarez 2011, Rana 2015). India produced 45.34 million
Potato production in India is highly concentrated in
t potatoes (12.32% of world production) against 95.99 Gangetic plains as three largest potato producing states,
million t by China (24.17% of world production) while viz. Uttar Pradesh (32.38% of national production), West
Russian Federation, third largest producer of potatoes, Bengal (26.94% of national production) and Bihar (14.56%
produced 30.20 million t (8.20% of world production) of national production), collectively contribute about 74%
in 2013 (FAOSTAT 2015). Hence, nearly 45% of global to the national production (Table 2). Share of Bihar state in
potato production took place in these three largest potato national potato production and area has increased from the
year 1997 to 2013; however, this share has decreased in case
1Principal Scientist (Agricultural Economics) (e mail: rajesh. of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal states, over this period.
[email protected]), ICAR-ATARI, Zone-1, PAU Campus, Ludhiana, Trend growth rates over the period of 2001 to 2013 depict
Punjab 141 004. 2Research Associate ([email protected]), that potato area and production has significantly grown in
ICAR-NIAP, DPS Marg, New Delhi, Pusa 110 012. all these three states while the productivity grew only in
38
Table 1 Trend growth rates (%) of potato area, production and as ‘A Change from Slowdown to Fast-track’ during recent
productivity from 2001 to 2013 two decades having 2005 as the year of inflection point
Country State Area Production Productivity (Chand 2014). In fact, years 2005 and 1998 had structural
breaks in the growth trajectory of Indian agriculture which
China† 1.79* 2.64* 0.84***
moved to a higher level of 3.75% (trend growth rate) during
Russian 2005 to 2013 against a modest 1.92% per annum during
-4.38* -2.24*** 2.23**
Federation†
1998 to 2004 after being high at 3.15% per annum during
India† 4.22* 6.04* 1.74* 1989 to 1997 (Chand and Shinoj 2012). For a comparative
Bihar# 8.73* 17.50* 8.07* analysis of trend and growth of potato in these states, the
Uttar Pradesh# 3.61* 4.30* 0.67 overall period was divided into two sub-periods, viz. before
West Bengal# 2.46* 4.23** 1.73 and after the year 2005. The cost of cultivation data were
available from the year 1997 onwards hence the pre-period
Overall 3
4.26* 5.90* 1.58** was considered from the year 1997 to 2004. On the other
states#
hand, the cost of cultivation data were available only up
World to the year 2013, hence the post-period was constituted by
-0.10 1.40* 1.50*
(Total) †
the years 2005 to 2013.
†: Data source is FAOSTAT; #: Data source is Directorate of This study is based on the time series data of three
Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation major potato producing states situated in Gangetic plains of
and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. *, ** and *** denote India, namely Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar from
level of significance at 1, 5 and 10%, respectively.
various sources for different time periods ranging from
case of Bihar state (Table 1). the year 1988 to 2013.For having an overview of factors
This analysis depicts a definite healthy growth in responsible for potato growth in top three potato producing
potato production scenario in India and its top three potato countries of the world and top three states of India during
producing states. However, there is a mixed picture on 21st century so far, growth rates of potato area, production
contributory factors of this growth. Apparently, it appears and productivity were estimated for the period of 2001 to
that potato production growth in India during about 2013. Data on potato area, production and productivity for
two recent decadesis largely area expansion led with different countries were obtained from the FAOSTAT while
relatively less contribution of productivity enhancement. these data for Indian states were taken from the Directorate
This indication fuels a policy debate whether the potato of Economics and Statistics (DES), Ministry of Agriculture
growth in India is technology led or just induced by its and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. Cost of potato
higher prices. This study of three largest potato producing cultivation data from 1997 to 2013 were also taken from
states in Gangetic plains,contributing about 74% of Indian DES. The time series data on potato cost of cultivation in the
potato production, envisages detailed analysis of reasons study area were smoothed with the help of Hodrick-Prescott
contributing to potato production in the country and further (HP) filter. The HP filtered data were used for computation
investigations into the constituents of productivity growth of MPI and other estimates based on these data. The HP filter
with the help of Malmquist Productivity Index. provides a smooth nonlinear time series after eliminating
short-term fluctuations from the data.
MATERIALS AND METHODS These data were used to estimate Malmquist
Top three potato producing states of India, viz. Uttar Productivity Index (MPI) as proposed by Malmquist (1953),
Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar collectively account for and standardized by Caves et al. (1982), Nishimizu and Page
nearly 74% of Indian potato production and form a national (1982) and Fare et al. (1989). The choice of MPI over other
potato production hub in Gangetic plains. These three states existing methods to measure TFP was guided mainly by the
were therefore taken as study area for this investigation. ability of the MPI to decompose TFP into technical change
Performance of Indian agriculture has been characterised and efficiency change followed by its estimation feasibility in
MPI approach without data on prices of inputs and outputs,
and no underlying assumptions, associated to the error term
Table 2 Share of potato area and production for the three largest in ordinary least square approach, exist in MPI approach
potato producing states in India (%) (Fare et al. 1994, Suresh 2013). Data Envelopment Analysis
State Area Production Program (DEAP) version 2.1 (Coelli 1996), was used for
1997 2005 2013 1997 2005 2013 carrying out the computations. Following equation expresses
the computation process of TFP change and its components
Bihar 15.06 11.38 16.48 7.94 5.79 14.56
(technical change and efficiency change):
Uttar Pradesh 34.81 33.24 29.92 39.98 41.19 32.38
È D t 2 ( x t 2 , yt 2 ) ˘
West Bengal 23.14 24.82 20.41 33.15 31.04 26.94 M 0 ( x t 2 , y t 2 , x t1 , y t1 ) = Í 0t 2 t1 t1 ˙
Overall 73.00 69.43 66.81 81.07 78.02 73.87 Î D0 ( x , y ) ˚
1
(1)
Data source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry ÈÊ D0t1 ( x t 2 , y t 2 ) ˆ Ê D0t1 ( x t1 , y t1 ) ˆ ˘ 2
of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. ÍÁ t 2 t 2 t 2 ˜ Á t 2 t1 t1 ˜ ˙
ÍÎË D0 ( x , y ) ¯ Ë D0 ( x , y ) ¯ ˙˚
39
Where: t1 is current and t2 is next period of time i.e. single year becomes arbitrary in nature (Scott 2011). Hence,
next year. decennial moving growth rates (Scott and Suarez 2011) were
È D0t 2 ( x t 2 , y t 2 ) ˘ estimated for the pre and post-period, i.e. years 1988-1997
Efficiency Change = Í t 2 t1 t1 ˙ (2) to 1995-2004 for pre-period and 1996-2005 to 2004-2013
Î D0 ( x , y ) ˚
for post-period.
ÈÊ D0t1 ( x t 2 , y t 2 ) ˆ Ê D0t1 ( x t1 , y t1 ) ˆ ˘
Technical Change = ÍÁ t 2 t 2 t 2 ˜ Á t 2 t1 t1 ˜ ˙ (3) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
ÍÎË D0 ( x , y ) ¯ Ë D0 ( x , y ) ¯ ˙˚
Fig 1 Area, production and yield of potato in selected Gangetic states of India (TE 2005-TE 2013)
40
states the score of analysis was further increased to cover rate during per-period and DE moving growth rates started
and compare the two different phases of agricultural growth increasing at a healthy 0.77% during post-period. The rate
in India, i.e. decennial ending year (DE) 1997 to DE 2004 of growth in potato productivity is the most important
and DE 2005 to DE 2013 (Scott 2011, Scott and Suarez indicator of potato research and development activities
2011). All the states under consideration, experienced being carried out in the country. Potato productivity grew
falling trend in potato area DE moving growth rates during at increasing rate in pre-period in the states of Bihar and
pre-period however, potato area growth rates showed a Uttar Pradesh, however, the rate of growth of DE growth
rising trend in all these states in the post period. Hence, rate rates in pre-period was negative in the state of West
of growth in potato area in the study area was negative in Bengal (Fig 3). The rate of potato productivity growth in
pre-period which started being positive in the post-period. Bihar during post-period was much stronger than in the
In other words, potato area increased at decreasing rate pre-period. Similarly, in the state of West Bengal the rate
in pre-period and at increasing rate in the post-period. of potato productivity growth in post-period was strongly
Bihar and West Bengal states showed a declining trend positive. However, contrary to the pre-period the rate of
in potato production growth rates during pre-period while potato productivity growth in Uttar Pradesh was negative
Uttar Pradesh had more or less stagnant trend (Fig 2). during post-period.
Nevertheless, during post-period potato production DE
moving growth rates trend was strongly positive. Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI)
Overall at the level of all the three states under Total Factor Productivity (TFP) approach has been used
consideration the potato production increased at falling in many important agricultural productivity studied in other
Fig 2 State-wise decennial moving trend growth rates (%) and trend lines for potato production during pre and post period. Data
source: Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India.
41
Table 3 Malmquist productivity index (MPI) of potato cultivation in selected Gangetic states of India during pre and post periods
MPI Bihar Uttar Pradesh West Bengal Overall
Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post
Efficiency change 101.0 102.1 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.1 100.2
Technical change 100.5 103.5 98.2 105.7 95.3 97.7 97.2 101.7
TFP change 101.5 105.7 98.2 105.7 95.3 97.7 97.3 102.0
Growth in MPI
Growth in EC 1.09 0.00 0.00 0.13
Growth in TC 2.99 7.64 2.52 4.67
Growth in TFPC 4.11 7.64 2.52 4.81
developing countries (Kawagoe et al. 1985, Nkamleu et al. of massive development initiatives including the agricultural
2003, Li et al. 2011) and in India (Kumar and Mruthyunjaya sector in Bihar during post period has resulted in the
1992, Rosegrant et al. 1995, Kalirajan and Shand 1997, improvement of potato cultivation efficiency in the state.
Kumar and Mittal 2006, Chandel 2007, Chand et al. However, in order to further improve growth of TFP change
2011 and Suresh et al. 2013) showing divergent results in in the study area new technologies specific to farmers’
relation to different regions, periods and crops. MPI is a preferences and needs (Rana et al. 2011, 2013) should be
powerful and convenient tool of computing decomposed developed and efficiently delivered to resource poor and
TFP into technical change and efficiency change (Coelli relatively unaware small and medium potato farmers.
et al. 2005, Suresh et al. 2013). TFP, technical change Agricultural sector in Bihar grew by 6.24% growth rate
and efficiency change during pre-period and post period in post-period (national estimate at 3.81%) compared to the
in potato cultivation in three Gangetic states of India have 2.34% in pre-period (national estimate 1.85%). However,
been given in Table 3. this growth was associated by 10.69% growth rate in state
Invariably the TFP has showed improvement during GDP in post-period (national GDP at 7.48%) against 4.74%
post period in all the states under consideration. For all state GDP growth rate in pre-period (national GDP growth
the three states the TFP improved by 4.81% during post- rate at 5.82%). The corresponding trend growth rate of real
period and it was largely affected by the technological cost of potato cultivation in Bihar during post-period has
adoption rather than the efficiency improvement. Terms of fallen compared to pre-period mainly on account of lower
trade became favourable for agriculture during early 1990s cost of human and bullock labour and total fixed cost (Table
and gradually improved till 1998-99. Afterwards, having 5). However, the cost of potato cultivation has grown at
moderate deceleration upto the year 2004-05 the terms of higher growth rate in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal
trade in favour of agriculture showed sharp improvement affecting overall scenario in the same direction.
in the post-period of the study (Birthal et al. 2013). This In Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal potato cultivation
development resulted in improvement in farmers’ income, efficiency remained static over both the periods indicating
including the potato farmers, and with the result the an urgent need of general rural development programmes
technological adoption has improved in the post period. For
potato specific evidence of improved profitability, growth Table 4 Trend growth rates (%) of factors of profitability in
rates of total value of output, paid-out costs and total profit potato cultivation in the study area during pre and post
were estimated in pre and post periods. A faster growth of period
potato profits during post-period has been confirmed in this
State Periods Total value Paid-out Profit
analysis (Table 4). Healthy profit growth in potato cultivation
of output (`) costs (`) (`)
in the state of Bihar was found even in the pre-period, and
the same has been reflected even in the technical change Bihar Pre 8.03* 7.70* 10.55***
during pre-period. Post 8.68* 6.71* 11.58*
In the state of West Bengal, technological adoption Uttar Pradesh Pre -0.86 0.46 -3.62
on relatively smaller potato farms has been less than the Post 5.14* 3.75* 6.32**
ideal even in the post-period (Table 3) due to nullification
West Bengal Pre 5.79** 2.89 7.77
of positive growth rate for total value of output and prices
during post-period by the fast escalation of paid-out costs Post 6.33* 5.36* 6.62
(Table 4). These growth rates efficiently reflect change from Over-all Pre 4.25** 3.38*** 4.93
negative TFP growth for Uttar Pradesh in pre-period to the Post 6.67* 5.23* 8.51**
considerably positive TFP growth for the state in the post Data source: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,
period. Bihar was the only state where potato cultivation Government of India. Pre-period: 1996-97 to 2003-04; and Post-
was done more efficiently even in pre-period which further period: 2004-05 to 2012-13; *, **, *** represent the level of
improved considerably in the post-period. Implementation significance at 1, 5 and 10%, respectively.
42
Table 5 Trend growth rates (%) of attributes for potato cultivation in selected Gangetic states of India during pre and post period
Particular Bihar Uttar Pradesh West Bengal Overall
Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post
Human labour 10.15* 7.30* 6.93* 6.11* 2.48 4.47* 5.53** 5.59*
Bullock labour -14.61 -22.28* 6.52 3.48 9.65** 5.37* 8.43** 3.05**
Machine labour 14.66 15.65 7.56*** 7.48* 5.38** 7.82* 7.66** 8.88*
Irrigation charges 8.65** 11.42* 17.97* 13.57* 2.33 3.27** 6.63** 7.29*
Total fixed costs 7.22*** 4.72* 5.27* 7.57* 5.71*** 6.61* 6.00** 6.57*
Total variable costs 8.45* 8.66* 1.98 4.49* 3.31*** 5.29* 4.23** 5.42*
Total costs (C2) 8.20* 6.24* 2.68 5.23* 3.99*** 5.65* 4.66** 5.69*
Data source: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. Pre-period: 1996-97 to 2003-04; and Post-period:
2004-05 to 2012-13; *, **, *** represent the level of significance at 1, 5 and 10%, respectively.
to enable supporting infrastructure augmentation in these the actual TFP change in potato cultivation was considerably
two states. Except for some efficiency growth in post-period negative even in the post-period which is a real cause of
over the pre-period in the state of Bihar, TFP growth in concern both at policy as well as research and development
the study area during post-period over pre-period has been level. Availability of processing grade potato varieties (Rana
by and large achieved on the bases of positive technical et al. 2010, Pandit et al. 2015) in India and their adoption
change. In spite of 2.52% growth in TFP in West Bengal in the study area (Pandit et al. 2015) has not only led to
potato cultivation during post-period over the pre-period, development of potato processing sector in India (Rana et
Fig 3 State-wise decennial moving trend growth rates (%) and trend lines for potato productivity during pre and post period. Data
source: Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.
43
al. 2010, Rana 2011, Rana et al. 2017) during post-period The technologies should be developed specific to the
but it has also contributed in augmentation (Table 4) and farmers’ needs and preferences. Such technologies need
stability (Pandit et al. 2015) of potato cultivation profitability to be efficiently delivered as large proportion of small and
in the country. medium potato farmers in the country generally don’t adopt
The concerns over inadequate growth in efficiency improved technologies at their own.
change in Indian agriculture have also been raised by
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