scholarly journals Extension services and the technical efficiency of crop‐specific farms in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Liu ◽  
Yongmu Jiang ◽  
Carl‐Johan Lagerkvist ◽  
Wei Huang
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Extension Services

Technical Efficiency in Seed Potato Production Systems in Uganda

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3(J)) ◽  
pp. 122-140
Author(s):  
Ambrose Rwaheru Aheisibwe ◽  
Razack B. Lokina ◽  
Aloyce S. Hepelwa
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Seed Potato ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Maximum Likelihood Estimates ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Seed Potato Production ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Income Source

This study established the level of technical efficiency and its determinants among the informal and formal seed potato producers in the southwestern highlands agro - ecological zone of Uganda. A multi- stage sampling procedure was employed to select 636 households (499 informal seed producers and 137 formal seed producers) from which data was collected for two seasons using a semi - structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the stochastic frontier approach with a one - step approach. Maximum likelihood estimates for the efficiency parameters showed that both informal and formal seed potato producers were not fully efficient. The mean technical efficiency for informal and formal seed potato producers was 8 1 .4 and 80.4 percent respectively. In terms of yield loss, informal and formal seed potato producers respectively lost an average of 981 and 1,208 kg/acre of seed potato tubers due to inefficiency factors . Specifically, off- farm income source, scale of production, seasonal variation, access to extension services and seed producer being male positively influenced informal seed producers’ technical efficiency while producers’ level of education and seed potato variety diversity negatively influenced their efficiency. For formal seed producers, technical efficiency was influenced positively by producers’ education and negatively by household size. The study suggests that there is an opportunity to improve technical efficiency of informal and formal seed producers by 19 and 20 percent respectively. Therefore, this calls for increased investment in developing and promoting high yielding varieties, provision of extension services, input intensification and addressing gender issues in seed potato production in the context of limited arable land .

scholarly journals Effect of Extension Training on Technical Efficiency of Maize Farmers in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone of Oyo State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 210-217
Author(s):  
Akintonde J. Oluwole ◽  
Akintaro O. Segun ◽  
Rahman S. Bayonle
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Interview Schedule ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Multistage Sampling ◽  
Selection Of

The efficiency of any entrepreneur is a function of personal production skill, knowledge and experience acquired over time and exposure via training in the field of his or her enterprise focus. It is on this premise that this study examined the effect of extension training on technical efficiency of maize farmers in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone, Oyo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was adopted for the selection of One-hundred and Eighty-One (181) maize farmers, while structured and validated interview schedule was used to obtain necessary information from the sampled respondents. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The mean age of sampled farmers was 48 years and majority (80.1%) of the farmers was male. The farmers with extension contact have access to different extension trainings on maize production in the study area. The average household sizes were 7 and 8, with the average farm sizes of 1.423ha and 1.417ha for both contact and non-contact maize farmers respectively. Those farmers with extension contact were found to be technically efficient than non-contact farmers. Significant relationship existed between some selected socio-economic characteristics of both sampled maize farmers and their maize output. The study therefore suggests the need to create more awareness on the roles of extension services on crop production among farmers and the authorities concern with extension service delivery should improve on the frequency of extension contact in order to encourage farmers' participation in extension activities in the study area and rural communities in Nigeria at large. Keywords: Extension training, technical efficiency, contact and non-contact maize farmers.

scholarly journals Technical Efficiency of Irish Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Production in Molo Sub County, Kenya

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Pauline Nyokabi Kamau ◽  
Geoffrey Kingori Gathungu ◽  
Rael Nkatha Mwirigi
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Solanum Tuberosum L ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Irish Potato ◽  
Likelihood Method ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Extension Services

This study focused on measuring farm level technical efficiency among smallholder Irish potato farmers in Molo Sub County and its determinants. Descriptive research design was applied. Cross-sectional data was collected through multistage sampling from smallholder Irish potato farmers located in Molo Sub County from April to June 2019. A Stochastic frontier approach assuming a Cobb-Douglas production function was adopted to analyze the level of technical efficiency and explain variations in this technical efficiency across farmers and estimation was done by applying the maximum likelihood method. Mean technical efficiency was 70.7%. The statistically significant variables with respect to the farm inputs were land (0.262), seed (0.629), fertilizer (-0.299) and fungicide (0.131) variables respectively. However, fertilizer variable had negative effects on Irish potato production. Education (-0.061), gender (-0.262), access to extension services (-0.078) and farmer group (-0.217) variables were significant and influenced technical inefficiency negatively.Increase in smallholder farmers’ literacy level, accessibility to extension services and farmer groups may improve Irish potato production technical efficiency. However, gender contribution towards Irish potato production technical efficiency needs a deeper understanding.

scholarly journals Economic analysis of turmeric cultivation: evidence from Khagrachari district

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-58
Author(s):  
MEA Begum ◽  
MA Monayem Miah ◽  
MA Rashid ◽  
MT Islam ◽  
MI Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Extension Service ◽  
Good Source ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Potential Output ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Net Benefits

Turmeric is a good source of income for hilly people of Bangladesh. The study estimated the profitability and technical efficiency of turmeric cultivation in Khagrachhari district. In total 150 turmeric farms located in Khagrachari Sadar, Panchari and Matiranga Upazilas of Khagrachari district, were surveyed. Data were collected, using a pre-tested questionnaire during January, 2015. The study revealed that turmeric farming is a profitable farming with some dominating variable costs like seed (rhizome) and sowing, harvesting and carrying. As the net return was Tk. 112139 per hectare and the BCR of sampled farmers was 2.20, this indicates that turmeric farms with a BCR greater than 1 have greater benefits than costs as well as positive net benefits. Seed (rhizome) and fertilizer showed significant positive effects on the turmeric production in the stochastic frontier production model. Turmeric farming displayed a mean technical efficiency of 82%, which suggested a substantial 18% of potential output of turmeric can be recovered by removing inefficiency. Besides improving technical efficiency, potential also exists for raising turmeric production through higher education and extension services. For a land scarce country like Bangladesh this gain could help increase income and ensure better livelihood for the hilly farmers. The policy implication of the analysis is that investment in education and extension service would greatly improve technical efficiency that contribute to income of the hilly people. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(1): 43-58, March 2019

scholarly journals Technical Efficiency of African Indigenous Vegetable Production in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 778-786
Author(s):  
V. S. Mulaudzi ◽  
A.S. Oyekale ◽  
P. Ndou
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Indigenous Vegetables ◽  
Vhembe District

AbstractAfrican indigenous vegetables (AIVs) have long been known in South African rural communities as essential food that is being consumed with starchy staples, and their consumption has increased over the past few decades. There is now a growing interest and awareness of AIVs due to their nutritional benefits and outstanding potential to generate farm incomes. However, several factors are militating against their production along the supply chains of value addition. This study analysed the technical efficiency of AIVs production in Vhembe district of Limpopo province. The data were collected from 114 AIVs farmers through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data analysis was carried out using Stochastic Frontier model via the Cobb-Douglas production function. The results revealed that the average age and years of farming experiences of the farmers were 59.6 and 30.9 years respectively. About 84% of the farmers lacked access to formal credit, while 92% had access to extension services. Elasticity values of land area cultivated, fertiliser, seeds, labour and tractor days in relation to AIV production were 0.4441, 0.1749, 0.1311, 0.2663 and 0.2360 respectively. Furthermore, the results revealed that average technical efficiency in the production of indigenous vegetables was 0.79%. The variables that significantly influenced technical inefficiency were years of schooling, extension services, gender and access to the irrigation system. In conclusion, production of AIV exhibits decreasing returns to scale. However, promotion of AIV production and efficiency requires consideration of gender issues in accessing resources, educational attainments of farmers, access to irrigation services and proper reorientation of the components of agricultural extension services delivery in order to benefit AIV farmers.

scholarly journals Assessment of Technical Efficiency and Its Potential Determinants among Small-Scale Coffee Farmers in Rwanda

Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jules Ngango ◽  
Seung Gyu Kim
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Land Consolidation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Simultaneous Estimation ◽  
Northern Province ◽  
Coffee Production ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Technical Inefficiency ◽  
Coffee Farmers ◽  
Coffee Sector

Coffee production is the main economic activity for smallholder farmers in Rwanda; it is also a major export crop. However, Rwandan coffee production has been facing structural changes with a significant decline in production. Considering the importance of the coffee sector to rural livelihoods and its potential role in export earnings, there is a need to ensure that small-scale coffee farmers efficiently use scarce resources in their production activities. Thus, this study estimates the technical efficiency and possible sources of inefficiency in small-scale coffee farming in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Three hundred and twenty coffee farmers are sampled to carry out a simultaneous estimation of the stochastic production frontier and technical inefficiency model. The results indicate that the mean technical efficiency among small-scale coffee farmers is 82 percent, implying a potential to increase coffee production by 18 percent with the current level of resources and technology. Coffee production displays increasing returns to scale and factors such as education, access to credit, extension services, improved variety of coffee trees, cropping system, and land consolidation have a positive and significant effect on technical efficiency. Thus, development policies in the coffee sector might focus more on enhancing the accessibility of farmers to extension services and credit facilities. In addition, adoption of high-yielding and disease-resistant coffee varieties, better cropping systems, and management of coffee plantations in land consolidation might reduce technical inefficiency among coffee farmers in the Northern Province of Rwanda.

scholarly journals Three essays on economics of water resources management in Nepal

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Krishna Lal Poudel
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Lower Productivity ◽  
Use Efficiency

First essay consists of two steps. First, Technical Efficiency (TE) index is estimated for upriver and downriver ecoregions employing DEA technique. In the second stage, we censored the TE index and run the Tobit regression model to assess the socio-economic factors responsible for explaining technical efficiency of smallholder farming practices. The median technical efficiency values were 0.606 and 0.756 in upriver and downriver respectively. Tobit model indicates lower productivity of small scale farming units are due to inadequate water availability, lack of reliable inputs and poor market services. Access to farm credit and electricity are significant and positive factors explaining technical efficiency in both regions. The second essay examines the on-going consequences of climate change on water resources availability and how adaptation practices and strategies have developed in agricultural practices. Results indicate increasing temperatures, prolonged drought followed by intense precipitation, and greater frequency of flooding than in the past. About two-thirds of small creeks and springs have disappeared and others will soon disappear if current trends continue. Respondents prefer collective water management. Logistic regression analysis shows that farm income, market access, access to extension services, and market distance are significant predictors of adaptive behavior. Essay-3 deals the conveyance, economic and agronomic efficiency of water used, and factors affecting aggregate water use efficiency in the study regions. Farmers in the Mountain region were found relatively more effective at reducing water loss than farmers in the Hill and Terai regions. Water use efficiency scores regressed on farm related socio-economic variables shows that farm size, distance to water source, government agricultural extension services and access to credit positively affect water use efficiency in all regions.

scholarly journals HOW DO ADAPTATION OPTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE, RISK PREFERENCES AND SOCIAL CAPITAL AFFECT TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SMALL VINEYARD FARMERS IN CENTRAL CHILE?

AGROFOR ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Ernesto Alvarado IRÍAS ◽  
Bernhard BRÜMMER ◽  
Marcela IBÁÑEZ
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Field Experiment ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Risk Preferences ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Scale Elasticity ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
General Trust ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale

Climate change can be seen as a shock that decreases the value of economic activities and production functions. Therefore, this study estimates technical efficiency as an integrated approach with risk preferences and social capital for small vineyard farmers who have adapted to climate change, because empirical evidence shows the key role of adaptation, risk preferences and social capital related to technical efficiency on a one-to-one basis, but not as overarching analysis. This study took place in the O’Higgins and Maule regions of central Chile, data were collected through a field experiment and an exit survey from September to December 2016. Specifically, we conducted an artefactual field experiment to elicit risk preferences from 175 small vineyard farmers; we used the midpoint method to estimate the Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) parameters, which indicate vineyard farmers are risk averse, sensitive to losses, and tend to distort probabilities. Then we applied a stochastic frontier analysis on the main variety area of vineyards. Results showed that the influence of capital (0.55) and number of vines (0.32) is higher enough; whereas, labor (0.13) and intermediate inputs (0.11) are also important but relatively low. The scale elasticity is 1.11, showing a Constant Returns to Scale (CRS). On average, technical efficiency was 0.73, which means that farmers could improve their performance by 27%. Additionally, results suggest that experience and education positively influence the technical efficiency, contrary to age, gender, region and density; whereas, access to extension services and irrigation increases efficiency. Also, general trust and membership in farmer organizations increases efficiency; and, as we expected, risk aversion and probability weighting decreases efficiency. In this regard, it is necessary to design policies and strategies focused on facilitate accessibility to exchangeable inputs; in the promotion of extension services with greater action area; facilitate access to irrigation through subsidies and credits; improve trust in programs and networks; develop cooperative enterprises or local and horizontal organizations to share information and services from farmer to farmer; and also generate action plans to promote a better risk and loss behavior in order to seize technological and economic opportunities and not overestimate extreme events.

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