Input and output technical efficiency and total factor productivity of wheat production in Tunisia

Boubaker Dhehibi (), Haithem Bahri and Mohamed Annabi

African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2012, vol. 07, issue 01, 18

Abstract: This paper investigates farm level technical efficiency of production and its determinants in a sample of 51 cereal producing farms in Tunisia that focus on wheat production. The empirical findings show that the labor input factor has a minimal effect on production. In addition, the technical efficiency of wheat production in the sample varied widely, ranging from 52.63 to 94.62%, with a mean value of 77%. This suggests that, on average, wheat producing farmers could increase their production by as much as 23% through more efficient use of production inputs. The results of Timmer and Kopp indexes of technical inefficiency show that the level of inefficiency was related to farm size: small and large farms were shown to be more technically efficient than medium-sized farms. Alternatively, inputs could be reduced by 17% on average to produce the same quantity of wheat output. These results call for policies aimed at providing training programs and extension services and improving input management by wheat farmers.

Keywords: Productivity; Analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:afjare:156975

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.156975

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