Estimation of Production Efficiency of Irrigated and Rainfed Cotton in Amravati District, Maharashtra, India

Cotton cultivation is an important component of the agricultural economy of Amravati district, Maharashtra, where production takes place under irrigated and rainfed conditions. This study compared the technical, economic and allocative efficiencies of cotton cultivation under these two production systems and identified the constraints reported by growers. Primary data for the agricultural year 2025–26 were collected from 120 farmers, comprising 60 irrigated and 60 rainfed cotton growers selected from six villages in Morshi and Bhatkuli tehsils. Data Envelopment Analysis was used to estimate input- and output-oriented efficiency under constant returns to scale (CRS) and variable returns to scale (VRS) assumptions, while Garrett's ranking technique was applied to prioritise production constraints. Mean input-oriented technical efficiency was higher among irrigated growers under CRS (0.926) and VRS (0.958) than among rainfed growers (0.748 and 0.882, respectively). Mean economic efficiency was 0.829 for irrigated cotton and 0.604 for rainfed cotton, while mean allocative efficiency was 0.897 and 0.819, respectively. The main constraints identified by irrigated growers were the unavailability of labour during peak periods, high wage rates and high seed costs. Rainfed growers prioritised uneven rainfall distribution, insufficient irrigation facilities and low seed cotton productivity. The findings indicate higher relative efficiency among the sampled irrigated farms and demonstrate that reported production constraints differ between the two cultivation systems.