Hybrid Time Series Models for Forecasting Maize Production in India

In spite of the immense success of different linear and non-linear time series models in their respective domains, real-world data are rarely pure linear or non-linear in nature. Hence, a hybrid modelling framework with the capability of handling both linear and non-linear patterns can substantially improve the forecasting accuracy. With this backdrop, an effort has been made in this investigation to evaluate the suitability of hybrid models in compassion to single linear or non-linear models for forecasting maize production in India. Data from 1949-50 to 2016-17 have been utilised for the model building purpose while retaining the data from 2017-18 to 2019-20 for the post-sample accuracy assessment. Outcomes emanated from this investigation clearly reveals that the ARIMA-NLSVR model has outperformed all other candidate models employed in this study. It is noteworthy to mention that both the hybrid models have performed better than their individual counterparts. The superior forecasting ability of both the non-linear models over the linear ARIMA model has also been evident.