Maize Cultivation in The Southwestern Region of Bangladesh: Assessing Production, Profitability, And Input Efficiency

This study explores the production performance, profitability, and input efficiency of maize cultivation in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, particularly in Kushtia and Chuadanga districts. Maize plays a crucial role in the local agricultural sector, contributing to food security and income generation. A total of 200 maize farmers took part in the study. They shared information about the inputs they used, their costs, the amount of maize they produced, and how much profit they made. The Cobb-Douglas production function was employed to estimate the effects of labor, land preparation, seed, irrigation, and other costs on farm income. The findings indicate that labor is the most efficient input in boosting productivity, however, land preparation, seed and irrigation show strong positive financial returns. Additionally, a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1.29 suggests that maize cultivation is economically profitable in the region. The study also identified input efficiency and found that key resources such as labor, land preparation, and irrigation are underutilized, suggesting opportunities to increased productivity. The results emphasize the importance of optimizing input use and improving farming practices to boost profitability and sustainability. Based on these findings, the study offers practical recommendations for farmers and policymakers to optimize input use, improve productivity, and ensure the sustainability of maize farming in the southwestern region of Bangladesh.