Vol. 7, Issue 11, Part B (2025)

The present investigation was carried out during the agricultural year 2024-25 in Latur district of Maharashtra with an objective to assess the resource use efficiency in dragon fruit (Hylocereus Spp.) production. The study was based on primary data collected from a sample of 60 dragon fruit growers selected through a multistage random sampling technique. Latur district was purposively chosen due to its growing importance in dragon fruit cultivation and favorable agro-climatic conditions. The data were analyzed using tabular analysis and the Cobb-Douglas production function to estimate the contribution of various inputs to production and determine their efficiency. The regression analysis revealed that the sum of regression coefficients exceeded unity, indicating increasing returns to scale in dragon fruit cultivation. The coefficient of determination (R² = 2.09) indicated a strong explanatory power of the model. The Marginal Value Product to Factor Cost (MVP/FC) ratios were greater than unity for manure, irrigation, and plant protection chemicals, confirming that these inputs can be increased to enhance productivity.