UNVEILING THE CRAFT: EXPLORING DETERMINANTS OF TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN POTTERY PRODUCTION ACROSS NORTH-WEST INDIAN STATES

Abstract

The pottery industry in India is recognized as an eco-friendly, small scale cottage industry. In predominantly rural country like India, pottery significantly contributes to employment generation, export growth etc. Present study aims to examine the present socio-economic profile of pottery artisans in the North-West Indian states, providing essential background information of this industry. Additionally, this research also focuses on analyzing the production efficiency and identifying the determinants of inefficiency among the respondents in the study region. So, to ensure comprehensive representation of the targeted population, snowball sampling was employed. The population was divided into two strata, Delhi and Haryana. Simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze the demographic characteristics of the respondents. To achieve another objective, a stochastic production frontier model was utilized to measure technical efficiency in production and to identify the determinants of inefficiency. The research reveals that pottery exhibit varied characteristics influenced by socio-economic factors. Furthermore, the study highlights the differences in technical efficiency between Delhi and Haryana, with artisans in Haryana being more efficient than those of Delhi. Various cost, such as those for raw materials, clay making, design, kiln making, and storage have a positive and significant impact on income. The study quantifies the income gap resulting from not achieving potential efficiency levels, amounting to ₹1646 in Delhi and ₹12757 in Haryana. The study provides the invaluable insights for policymakers aiming to enhance the productivity and incomes of pottery artisans through targeted interventions addressing technological and financial challenges. This research underscores the importance of tailored support for artisans in different regions to bridge the efficiency gap and foster sustainable growth in the traditional pottery industry.