|
This paper reports on an analysis of production and technical inefficiency in pistachio farming systems in Iran. A random sample of 233 farmers was selected from the province of Kerman during 2003 and 2004, which is a larger data set with a wider spatial coverage compared with the previous studies on pistachio production. Technical inefficiency indices are computed using a stochastic frontier production function assuming a translog form. The study also reports on productivity and efficiency differences between varieties of pistachio trees and provides estimates of age-yield and density-yield functions. Estimates of mean technical efficiency in 2003 and 2004 are 65.2 and 63.7%, which are not significantly different. The mean technical efficiency scores across both years for plantations of the Kalleh-Ghuchi, Akbari, Fandoghi varieties and for plantations containing a mixture of all three varieties are 65.8, 59.4, 62.4 and 78.7%, respectively. Farmers cultivating the more traditional mixed-variety plantation are more technically efficient than those specializing in one of the three tree varieties. We found a positive relation between technical efficiency and experience, and suggest that extension programmes should be aimed at the less experienced farmers. |
|