India produces onions, one of the agricultural products that is closely monitored. This crop has several personalities; it makes traders happy, farmers fear, and customer’s tear. A study involving 90 onion farmers in India during the Rabi season 2022-2023 found that potash fertilizer and machine labour significantly impact onion production. However, resources like human labour, bullock labour, seed cost, and plant protection cost were underutilized. Efficient utilization of input resources like machine labour, manure, nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, and irrigation charges could improve economic management and increase profits. Major constraints included fluctuating market prices, lack of storage facilities, and high transport costs. Odisha has a comparative advantage in onion production as DRCs were 0.58 and 0.53 in Kalahandi and Nuapada respectively

Resource use efficiency, Onion, Comparative advantage, Profitability

The functional analysis reveals that potash fertilizer and machine labour significantly impact onion crop production. However, resources like human labour, bullock labour, seed cost, and plant protection cost are underutilized, requiring increased input for better profitability. Overutilized inputs like machine labour, manure, nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, and irrigation charges are overutilized. Major constraints include fluctuating market prices, lack of storage facilities, high transport costs, and unavailability of market knowledge

Sattaswarup Rout, R.K. Rout, B.P. Gantayat, B.R. Behera and T. Majhi (2023). Resource Use Efficiency of Onion Production in Western Undulating Agroclimatic Zone of Odisha. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(8): 613-616