Contract Farming and Technical Efficiency: A Case of Export-Oriented Organic Rice Farmers in Pakistan

Rabia Mazhar, Bi Xuehao, Thomas Dogot, Rytis Skominas, Vjekoslav Tanaskovik, Hossein Azadi and Zou Wei ()
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Rabia Mazhar: College of Public Administration, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Bi Xuehao: College of Public Administration, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Thomas Dogot: Department of Economics and Rural Development, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
Rytis Skominas: Bioeconomy Research Institute, Vytautas Magnus University, LT-44248 Kaunas, Lithuania
Vjekoslav Tanaskovik: Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food-Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
Hossein Azadi: Department of Economics and Rural Development, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
Zou Wei: College of Public Administration, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Although organic rice is a niche market in Pakistan, it has exhibited enormous potential for growth in export-oriented production. Since contract farming is the leading promoter of export-oriented organic rice production in Punjab, Pakistan, improving the technical efficiency of smallholder rice farmers through contract farming holds sufficient potential. This work examines the influence of contract farming participation on smallholder rice farmers’ technical efficiency using a cross-sectional data set of 650 respondents. We applied a stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to examine the production frontier and inefficiency estimates. Further, propensity score matching (PSM) was used to control endogeneity and self-selection bias in technical efficiency estimates. The results reveal that the technical efficiency score of organic rice farmers in Punjab, Pakistan, is 89.7%, which can still be improved by 10.3% at the current sociodemographic characters and input levels. Likewise, land size, seed, and machine expenditures are the key inputs of the production frontier. Results show a positive and significant connection between contract farming participation and technical efficiency. The study extends the literature on technical efficiency, export-oriented production, contract farming, and the well-being of smallholder farmers. Moreover, the study’s findings provide cues for policies and practices.

Keywords: contract farming; technical efficiency; export-oriented production; organic rice; smallholders’ well-being; food policies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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