Technical Efficiency and Production Constraints in Cotton Cultivation: An Empirical Analysis of Hybrid and Local Varieties in Kushtia, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study investigates the technical efficiency and production constraints of hybrid and local cotton varieties in Kushtia district, Bangladesh, using primary survey data from 60 farmers (30 hybrid and 30 local). A Cobb–Douglas stochastic frontier production function was applied to estimate technical efficiency and identify determinants of inefficiency. Results indicate that hybrid cotton farmers achieved a mean technical efficiency of 92 percent, compared with 81 percent for local farmers, implying potential output gains of 8 and 19 percent, respectively, under existing input levels. For hybrid cotton, human labor, TSP, gypsum, and irrigation exerted significant positive effects on production, while urea showed a negative impact. Farm size, training, and farming experience were found to significantly reduce inefficiency. Local cotton farmers exhibited similar patterns, with human labor, TSP, and irrigation positively influencing yield. The analysis further identified key production constraints, including long cultivation duration (91.67 percent of farmers), low output prices (90 percent), insect infestations (83.33 percent), and adverse climatic conditions (75 percent). These findings suggest that targeted interventions—such as farmer training, improved resource management, expansion of farm size, and strategies to address systemic production constraints—can enhance cotton productivity and efficiency. Strengthening these areas could reduce Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on cotton imports and support the long-term sustainability of its textile sector.