Impact of information on wheat productivity in India: Evidence from a large-scale household survey

Abstract

Using data from the 77th round Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), this study has investigated the impact of information access and its adoption on wheat productivity in India. Wheat being a critical crop for food security, significant variations in its yield persist across the regions due to differences in the socioeconomic and agro-climatic conditions. The study has used a double-hurdle model to analyse the two-step decision-making process viz. access to information and its adoption by farmers. Broad findings reveal that access to information alone does not significantly influence wheat productivity, rather adopting information positively impacts yield. Demographic factors, such as age of the household head and household size, negatively affect the adoption of modern information sources. The study has highlighted the role of progressive farmers and input dealers as key source of information. Some policy interventions are suggested to enhance the reach of public extension services, promotion of digital platforms, and improvement in the dissemination of technological information to the marginal farmers.

Keywords: Information impact, efficiency, wheat productivity, double-hurdle model JEL codes Q12

JEL Classification: Q12, Q16