Economic Analysis of Fertilizer Use for Major Crops

ABOUT THE BOOK This book is a comprehensive study on the Economic Analysis of Fertilizer use for major crops in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu at the micro level and the demand for fertilizer at the macro level. It deals with the fertilizer use on three crops namely, rice, sugarcane and cotton.

The study pertains to the micro as well as macro aspects of fertilizer use. A micro analysis would help us to understand the problems and to recommend solutions specific to the particular region. The macro analysis would serve as a guiding factor in framing policies concerning the whole economy. It would be appropriate to a great extent to formulate macro-economic policies for the development based on micro economic inferences.

The study relating to determinants of fertilizer use of the popular varieties of three major crops at micro level is instrumental to find out the degree of influence of each explanatory variable exercised over the dependent variables. This would help to suggest possible ways of improving farm management.

The author tries to focus on the factors determining the increase in fertilizer demand in the country. The use of Nerlovian model would help us to understand the influence of lagged variables on fertilizer use.

The study encompasses the guide lines to be followed by the Government in the matter of withdrawal of fertilizer subsidy. It also envisages them to pay more importance on various economic factors.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. S. KAYARKANNI, presentlya Reader in Economics in Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Courtallam (Tamil Nadu), did her post-graduation in Economics and Mathematical Economics. She was awarded M.Phil and Ph.D. in Economics by the Madurai Kamaraj University. She served in the Depart ment of Education in the Mother Teresa Women's 'University, Kodai-kanal and the Lady Doak College, Madurai. She is guiding the M.Phil. and Ph.D students of Madurai Kamaraj University, Annamalai University and M.S. University.

She has a number of research papers to her credit, published in the journals of Agricultural Situation in India, Margin, Indian Journal of Marketing and the Journal of Ancient Sciences and Archaeology.

Her other research papers have appeared in various publications like Mano Research papers, Mano Research Forum, Industrial Resurgence in Rural, India, Scope and Strategies, Revamping financial sector, Studies in Indian Place Names and Rural Industrialization, Problems and Prospects etc.

She has actively participated in several regional, state-level and national conferences and workshops. She has edited the Journal of Ancient Sciences and Archaeology.

FOREWORD Dr. S. Kayarkanni, the author of the work on 'Economic Analysis of Fertilizer use for Major crops' has made a significant contribution by motivating the economists to think interms of new economic policy. It may be noted that her conclusions are based on a sound fooling with illustrative example. In this study, the author has made a convincing attempts to analyse the use of fertilizers on three major crops viz., rice, sugarcane and cotton. Be it a micro or macro-level study on the demand and supplying fertilizers, the goal is to assess the rate of production. Impact of fertilizers on the crop yield through an analytical study reveal the independent variables which include the relative price, organic manure, tenurial status and so on. The major determinants of the crop yield have been identified with the help of linear regression model and other associated explanatory variables. These variables are related closely in determining the yield. The factors which influenced the rise of the crop production have been determined. Ultimately of the three major crops, The fertilizer's influence on sugarcane is in the higher side.

The author has drawn the guide lines to be followed by the governments so as to regulate the cropping pattern. Dr. kayarkanni, an enthusiastic economist has over and again emphasized the increased use of fertilizers to drive the maxi mum farm production. A study of this kind for other commercial crops will be great advantage for the farmers in particulars. This publication is a great boon to the students of Indian Economy who would like to get more closely acquainted with the fertilizer use and crop production:

**Contents and Sample Pages**