scholarly journals Technical Efficiency of Mushroom Farmers in Swaziland

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Nkosingiphile P. Dlamini ◽  
Micah B. Masuku ◽  
Jeremiah I. Rugambisa
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Mushrooms have been cultivated in Swaziland since 2001 as part of a long-term programme which sought to improve rural livelihoods through commercial production of non-conventional high-value commodities. Despite the mushroom enterprise gaining popularity in a number of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, where production is dominated by rural-based small-scale farmers, limited research has been done to study the technical efficiency of mushroom farmers in Swaziland.The primary objectives of this study were to determine the level of technical efficiency of mushroom farmers in Swaziland and identify factors which influence technical efficiency of mushroom farmers. Measures of technical efficiency were conducted with 62 farmers in the four Agro ecological zones of Swaziland. The list of current mushroom farmers was obtained from the Mushroom Development Unit in Malkerns. The Stochastic frontier production function was used to compute the level of technical efficiency (TE). The results revealed that the mean technical efficiency was 95%. The results suggest that substantial gains in output can be attained by improving present technical practices which includes the increase in the amount of substrate used. A two limit Tobit regression technique was used to examine the relationship between TE and various farm and farmer characteristics. The results showed that household size was significant at 5% level, technical assistance was also significant at 5% and access to credit was significant at 10% level. It was recommended that extension officers equip farmers on technologies that will help boost their efficiency level and policies that will make access to credit from government and NGO’s for mushroom farmers to acquire resources.

scholarly journals Adoption of dairy farming technologies by small farm holders: practices and constraints

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Quddus
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Crossbred Cows ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Rural Farmers ◽  
Inadequate Knowledge ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
High Level

In Bangladesh, usually, small scale farmers are not adopted to use all kinds of improved technologies in dairy farming. But, high level of technology adoption has a direct impact on milk yield and household’s income generation as well as dairy development. The objectives of this study was to determine the causes of adoption and non adoption of high yielding breed, the level of practices and constraints in adopting the improved technologies. The study was carried out in three different agro-ecological zones and 180 dairy cattle farmers were interviewed. Self practiced dairy technologies were listed, adoption score for each technology and adoption index for each farmer were studied. One-fourth farmers used artificial insemination for breeding purpose and two-fifth belonged to medium or high level of technology adoption. Only 35% farmers adopted crossbred cows and some others upgraded indigenous with exotic breeds. About 17.5% rural farmers and 70% semi-urban farmers reared crossbred cows and rural farmers are reluctant to utilize all kinds of improved technologies. Secondary and higher educated farmers were 9.7 times more likely to be adopting improved technologies compared to illiterate farmers. Top ranked constraints were ill equipped and negligible services at AI centre, no provision for testing of animals, poor knowledge of farmers about health care of animals and inadequate knowledge about proper feeding and balanced ration. Need more knowledge on improved technologies through training, availability of reliable and continuous technical assistance, availability and low price of concentrate feeds, increased and timely provision of medicine, increasing AI facilities, providing pure breed and strengthening extension services were the main suggestions from farmers.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v41i2.14132Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2012. 41 (2): 124-135

scholarly journals Technical Efficiency of Plantain Production in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1203-1213
Author(s):  
Rufus Sunday Owoeye ◽  
F. O. Osundare
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Pests And Diseases

This study examined the technical efficiency of plantain production in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area (LGA) of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study used multistage sampling techniques for data collection. Data were collected from 90 plantain farmers through well-structured questionnaires from the LGA with three towns purposively selected. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis and stochastic frontier production model. Results from descriptive analysis showed that 48.88 percent of the plantain farmers had secondary education and above. Majority of the respondents (66.67 percent) had between 5 and 8 members that made up the household in the study area. Findings further showed that majority of the respondents produced on small scale with average plantain farm size of 0.96 hectares. The farmers were fairly experienced with 44.44 percent of them had more than 15 years of farming experience. With mean profit of ₦251,500 per hectare and percentage profit of 63.11 percent, the venture was considered to be highly profitable. Farmers who invested ₦1 realized revenue of ₦0.63. The RTS parameter (0.931) was obtained from the summation of the coefficients of the estimated inputs (elasticities) which indicated that plantain production in the study area was in Stage II of the production surface meaning that these variables were efficiently utilized. Depreciation, hired labour, family labour, farm size and quantity of suckers planted were the significant variables that influence efficiency of the plantain farmers. Age, land acquisition and access to credit contributed significantly to technical inefficiency. Among the most prevalent constraints were; price fluctuation (72.22%), heavy wind (70.00%), high cost of farm input (68.89%), pests and diseases and pilferage (63.33%) each, insufficient credit facility, storage facility and poor agricultural extension services (62.22%) respectively.

scholarly journals Agricultural Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia: A Stochastic Frontier Approach

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 246
Author(s):  
Markose Chekol Zewdie ◽  
Michele Moretti ◽  
Daregot Berihun Tenessa ◽  
Zemen Ayalew Ayele ◽  
Jan Nyssen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Stochastic Frontier Approach ◽  
Small Scale Irrigation

In the past decade, to improve crop production and productivity, Ethiopia has embarked on an ambitious irrigation farming expansion program and has introduced new large- and small-scale irrigation initiatives. However, in Ethiopia, poverty remains a challenge, and crop productivity per unit area of land is very low. Literature on the technical efficiency (TE) of large-scale and small-scale irrigation user farmers as compared to the non-user farmers in Ethiopia is also limited. Investigating smallholder farmers’ TE level and its principal determinants is very important to increase crop production and productivity and to improve smallholder farmers’ livelihood and food security. Using 1026 household-level cross-section data, this study adopts a technology flexible stochastic frontier approach to examine agricultural TE of large-scale irrigation users, small-scale irrigation users and non-user farmers in Ethiopia. The results indicate that, due to poor extension services and old-style agronomic practices, the mean TE of farmers is very low (44.33%), implying that there is a wider room for increasing crop production in the study areas through increasing the TE of smallholder farmers without additional investment in novel agricultural technologies. Results also show that large-scale irrigation user farmers (21.05%) are less technically efficient than small-scale irrigation user farmers (60.29%). However, improving irrigation infrastructure shifts the frontier up and has a positive impact on smallholder farmers’ output.

Technical efficiency and its determinants in the Indian textile garments industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulla ◽  
Shiv Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Textile Industry ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Efficiency Score ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose This paper aims to examine technical efficiency and its determinants in Indian textile garments industry in post-agreement on textiles and clothing regime and evaluate the technical efficiency among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) firms. Design/methodology/approach This study uses unbalanced panel data for the period 2005–2010 to 2015–2016. The stochastic frontier function is used to estimate technical efficiency and its determinants. Findings The results show that the overall ecosystem of textile garments’ value chains could be improved to enhance the technical efficiency thereof. The result also reveals that small-scale firms have the highest technical efficiency scores, and medium-scale firms have the least technical efficiency score among all the categories of MSMEs. Research limitations/implications The textile garments industry needs to define its innovation strategies, as these strategies lead to different results that can be achieved only through the management of resources dedicated to the generation and implementation of innovations. Practical implications This study has shown that to offset India’s cost disadvantage in the international markets, there is a need to develop an ecosystem of textile manufacturing and value chains, eliminate the inverted duty structure (where inputs are taxed at a higher rate than the final product) and switch over from shuttle looms toward shuttle-less looms. This would unleash the potential of textile and garments industry and make it globally competitive and technically efficient. Further, there will be an alignment with the ease of doing business with an appropriate mix of policy, technology, institution, infrastructure, information and services. Originality/value Using frontier production function takes stochastic context into account for the dynamic character of technical efficiency and its components. Most of the past studies have assessed technical efficiency at the aggregate level using three-digit National Industrial Classification (NIC) or four-digit NIC code. An analysis at higher levels of aggregation masks the variation in technical efficiency. This study used five-digit NIC data to measure the firm-specific technical efficiency of the textile industry. According to the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind in the Indian textile industry using stochastic frontier approach and panel data. Further, it also looks at the contribution of different determinants in technical efficiency to the firms.

scholarly journals Effisiensi Produksi Industri Skala Kecil Batik Semarang: Pendekatan Fungsi Produksi Frontier Stokastik

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngatindriatun Ngatindriatun ◽  
Hertiana Ikasari
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Free Variable ◽  
High Price ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Central Java ◽  
Stochastic Frontier Production Function ◽  
Analysis Instrument ◽  
Frontier Production Function

Batik is known since 17th century. In 2009, UNESCO took batik as the world heritage. Likewise, Batik Semarang. Batik Semarang is unpopular than other batik’s products on Central Java. Their productivity is on small scale and only for environment surroundings. The small productivity causes the high price on their product selling. The aims of this research are to estimate the function of production and technical efficiency of batik Semarang. Sample is 67 owners of small scale batik Semarang industry. Analysis instrument is Stochastic Frontier Production Function. The measuring of production efficiency are material, support material, labor force, instruments, kerosene, firewood, and large of trade location. The result shows that free variable is found significant and have an appropriate signal. Other result shows that technical efficiency of batik Semarang industry is 88, 9%

scholarly journals Technical Efficiency and Small Scale Maize Producers in Mwanza Region: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mukole Kongolo
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Stochastic Frontier Analysis ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Likelihood Estimation ◽  
Estimation Procedure ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Frontier Analysis

This study measured technical efficiency and its determinants in maize production by small-scale producers in Mwanza region, using a stochastic frontier production function approach. A randomly selected sample of participants in the two districts was used. The Maximum Likelihood estimation procedure was followed to obtain the determinants of technical efficiency and technical efficiency levels of small-scale maize producers. The minimum and maximum values of technical efficiency were between 20% and 91%, indicating that the least practices of specific producer operates at a minimum level of 20%, while the best practice producers  operate  at 91% technical efficiency  level respectively. The summary results of the mean technical efficiency was 63%. The main determinants of technical efficiency were labour, farm size, producer’s experience, producer’s age, family size which were all positive and statistically significant. The findings suggest that the average efficiency of small-scale maize producers could be improved by 37% through better use of existing resources and technology. These findings highlight the need for action by government to assist small-scale maize producers improve efficiency.

scholarly journals Efficacité Technique des Petits Producteurs du Maïs au Bénin

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Fawaz A. Adéchinan Aminou
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Farm Households ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Selling Price ◽  
Stochastic Frontier Approach ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Seed Distribution ◽  
Production Area ◽  
Low Efficiency

This study examines how small maize farmers allocate their production inputs and identifies the elements that characterize efficient farms. A Cobb Douglas stochastic frontier approach is used to estimate farm level technical efficiency of maize farmers. Average technical efficiency of sampled farms was estimated to be 65.40% with a minimum of 20.47% and a maximum of 93.46%. The study further showed that the farmers’ sex, the use of improved seeds, the maize selling price, the non-farm income, the contact with an NGO, the access to credit and the production area played a positive and significant role in improving technical efficiency. The results imply that government can save resources used in extension services and focus on its improved seed distribution policy. Also, imperfections in the labor/capital market contribute to the low efficiency of farm households.

scholarly journals Agroforestry as a Biodiversity Conservation Tool in the Atlantic Forest? Motivations and Limitations for Small-Scale Farmers to Implement Agroforestry Systems in North-Eastern Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 6932
Author(s):  
Mauricio Sagastuy ◽  
Torsten Krause
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Agroforestry Practices

Agroforestry practices support agricultural resilience against climatic variability, increase soil productivity, can diversify and increase farmers’ incomes, and support native fauna in agricultural landscapes. However, many farmers are still reluctant to implement agroforestry practices. We distributed questionnaires to 75 agroforestry and 64 “conventional agriculture” small-scale farmers working in the northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest to identify the motivations and limitations to implement agroforestry practices. We reveal the four main reasons why farmers worked with agroforestry: Higher income generation (89%), diversification of the production system (86%), increase in the land’s quality and productivity (86%), and increase in self-sufficiency (82%). The three most common mentioned reasons for conventional agriculture farmers to not shift to agroforestry practices were: Uncertainty if the system will work (62%), reduction in yield of the main agricultural crop (43%), and a lack of models and knowledge in the region (41%). Agroforestry in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest region can support native fauna, but farmers need to be educated about agroforestry practices and encouraged to switch from conventional agriculture to agroforestry through an increase in available technical assistance and capacitation/training in agroforestry practices.

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