Technical efficiency of chicken layer farms in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The study intended to examine the technical efficiency of poultry layer farms in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. Purposive sampling was followed for the selection of study area and sample respondents. Ninety layer farmers were contacted for the study. Stochastic Frontier Production function model was used to assess the technical efficiency of layer farms. The variables such as flock size, feed intake, labourers employed were found to be significantly influencing the egg production across the group I and II. Poultry farmers could be able to increase the efficiency of the farm by 79 per cent given the current level of technology. Both the size of the farms were technically efficient, however, larger farms (group II) were more efficient than small farms. Farmers’ age, experience and credit access were the most important determinants which would reduce the poultry farmer’s technical inefficiency. The study suggested that periodical training may be given to the layer farmers by veterinary colleges or KVKs for effective utilization of feed and other inputs to enhance the technical efficiency of farmers.

Moreover, Poultry insurance scheme may be insisted among the farmers to reduce losses and strengthening of research and development on feed for provision of a least-cost combination of inputs to the layer farmers by the veterinary universities may be done reduce the technical inefficiency.