Potato production system in Bangladesh: resource use, productivity, efficiency and comparative profitability of true potato seed technology over traditional tuber technology.

摘要

This paper analyses the productivity and resource use efficiency of potato production using true potato seed (TPS) technology by means of a Cobb-Douglas production function and input cost data. Profitability of TPS technology is compared with the traditional tuber technology. Data were gathered from a sample of 200 growers in the major potato growing districts of Bogra and Jessore, Bangladesh in 1998. Resource use and management varied in the two productions systems causing variability in costs andreturns. The TPS technology was found to have a higher benefit-cost ratio than the traditional technology. It was revealed from efficiency analysis that the potato growers using TPS technology allocated their resources in the rational stage of production (i.e., Stage IE). However, inefficiency exists in the use of human labour, seed, manure and fertilizers in TPS technology. Potato output could be incresed by 20% given efficient use of resources.