Roles of Personal, Household, Physical, and Institutional Factors on Farmers’ Efficiency of Hybrid Maize Production: Implications for Food Security

Shoaib Akhtar, Azhar Abbas (), Muhammad Faisal, Muhammad Haseeb Raza, Abdus Samie, Mark Yu () and Ashley Lovell
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Shoaib Akhtar: Department of Agriculture Business and Marketing, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Baha Uddin Zakariya University, Multan 60000, Pakistan
Azhar Abbas: Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Muhammad Faisal: Department of Economics, University of Mianwali, Punjab 42200, Pakistan
Muhammad Haseeb Raza: Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan
Abdus Samie: Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Mark Yu: Division of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Tarleton State University, P.O. Box T-0040, Stephenville, TX 76402, USA
Ashley Lovell: Division of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Tarleton State University, P.O. Box T-0040, Stephenville, TX 76402, USA

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-13

Abstract: This study explored the multifaceted factors influencing the efficiency of hybrid maize production and investigated the possible implications for food security. The study adopted a comprehensive approach, examining personal, household, physical, and institutional factors that affect farmers’ productivity. Findings revealed the technical, allocative, and economic efficiencies through a combination of field surveys, data analysis, and econometric modeling. The mean technical, allocative, and economic efficiency scores for the sampled farms were 0.89, 0.66, and 0.59, respectively. Moreover, the result of Tobit regression analysis showed high significance of all three efficiencies. The significant factors associated with technical efficiency were farm size, age of farm household, maize farming experience, maize farming area, distance from the farm to the main market, number of visits by extension workers, credit access, and Okara district. In addition, the number of visits by extension workers, districts (Sahiwal and Okara), age of farmers, maize farming experience, and regional disparity (Sahiwal district) had substantial influences on allocative and economic inefficiencies in the hybrid maize-growing farms. Policymakers and agricultural stakeholders can develop focused strategies to improve farmers’ productivity and overall food security by identifying the key factors associated with hybrid maize production. Tailored interventions that address knowledge gaps, improve resource allocation, and provide improved institutional support can help make food systems more sustainable and resilient.

Keywords: productivity; market access; sustainability; information; supply chain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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