An analytical study on the growth and decomposition of area, production, and productivity of banana in Theni District, Tamil Nadu

Introduction

Banana and plantain (Musa paradisicia) are widely grown in India and are associated with the historical, economic and social fabric of Indian sub-continent. Banana is also known as the "fruit of the wise men" (Angles and Sundar, 2012) [4] . In India, banana is the second most important fruit crop after mango, both in terms of cultivated area and total production. It is highly valued for its high yield potential, year-round availability, and rich nutritional profile, including carbohydrates, vitamins (particularly B6 and C), potassium, and dietary fiber. Banana serves as a stable food in many regions and also plays a vital role in the economy by supporting millions of small and marginal farmers. Besides fresh consumption, bananas are processed into products such as chips, puree, flour, and fiber. India is the world's largest producer of banana, with major cultivating states including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. India leads global production with approximately 37.5 million tonnesin 2023-24, accounting for nearly 19.4% of the world's output. Due to its commercial importance, banana cultivation demands scientific practices in planting, nutrition, irrigation, pest and disease management, and post-harvest handling to ensure high productivity and quality.

Review of Literature

Meenakshi and Monikanda (2022) [1] analyzed the instability for production of banana in Tamil Nadu. The time series data for 1991-92 to 2002-22 were uses for the study. This analysis reveals that the stability of banana production was relatively stable in India (88%) & Tamil Nadu (72%) by using coefficient of variation (C.V)%. Saravanapandeeswari and Vanitha (2018) [2] analyzed Growth of area, production and productivity of banana cultivation in Theni district, Tamil Nadu. The time series data for 2003-04 to 2014-15 were uses for the study. The results of the study reveals that yield effected 26.80% and area effected 39.20%, having significant contribution in whole increase in production of banana cultivation. Senthilkumar and Kannan (2019) [3] analyzed the area, production, productivity of banana in Tamil Nadu. The time series data for 2007-08 and 2016-17 were uses for the study. there was a significant growth in area and production, Tamil Nadu showed a marginal decline in productivity (CAGR= -3.11%). This indicates an unsatisfactory and declining trend in banana productivity despite overall national growth. www.extensionjournal.com

Methodology

The present study is based on time series data spanning from 2002-03 to 2022-23, focusing on the area, production, and yield of banana in Theni district, Tamil Nadu. Secondary data were sourced from the Season and Crop Report of Tamil Nadu, Statistical Abstract of Tamil Nadu, and the National Horticultural Board database. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software to evaluate growth rate, instability, and contributing factors to production changes.

Compound Growth Rate

Several methods are available to estimated growth rates. In this study exponential function was used to estimate compound growth rate by taking time as the independent variable and area, production and productivity as dependent variable. This exponential trend equation gives constant rate of increase or decrease per unit of time and they are termed as compound growth rate were estimated by fitting exponential trend equation of the following type. Compound growth rate is computed using the following formula. Compound Growth Rate (CGR) = (Antilog (logeb)-1) *100 Growth rates are worked out to examine the tendency of variable to increase, decrease or remain stagnant over a period of time. It also indicates the magnitude of the rate of change in the variable under consideration per unit of time.

For the present study, compound growth trend was used to estimate the growth in area, production and productivity of banana crop. Where: 'n' refers to current year and 'o' refers to base year of the study period. The effects of productivity, area, and their interaction on banana production in Tamil Nadu from 2002-03 to 2022-23 were analyzed. During this period, total banana production increased by approximately 1,80,220.98 million tonnes. Of this increase, 62.13% was attributed to the expansion in cultivated area, 20.82% to improved productivity, and 17.05% to the interaction between area and productivity. The analysis indicates that area expansion had a greater impact on production growth than productivity improvements.

Instability index

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

Banana is a major fruit crop widely cultivated and consumed across India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. The study revealed that banana cultivation in Theni district lacked stability during the study period. The annual growth rate in production (5.61%) was higher than that of the cultivated area (3.63%) and productivity (1.92%). The Coefficient of Variation Index (CDVI) indicated that production (24.47%) was more inconsistent compared to area (14.63%) and productivity (19.26%). Decomposition analysis showed that the area effect contributed significantly (62.13%) to the increase in banana production, followed by the yield effect (20.82%). This suggests that while expansion in cultivated area played a key role in boosting production, there is still potential to improve productivity. Therefore, by maintaining the current area under cultivation, banana yields can be enhanced through the adoption of appropriate production technologies.

References

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