Technical, allocative, cost and scale efficiencies in Bangladesh rice cultivation: a non-parametric approach

Coelli, T., Rahman, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0391-6191 and Thirtle, C. (2002) Technical, allocative, cost and scale efficiencies in Bangladesh rice cultivation: a non-parametric approach. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 53 (3). pp. 607-626. ISSN 1477-9552 doi: 10.1111/j.1477-9552.2002.tb00040.x

Abstract/Summary

Applying programming techniques to detailed data for 406 rice farms in 21 villages, for 1997, produces inefficiency measures, which differ substantially from the results of simple yield and unit cost measures. For the Boro (dry) season, mean technical efficiency was 69.4 per cent, allocative efficiency was 81.3 per cent, cost efficiency was 56.2 per cent and scale efficiency 94.9 per cent. The Aman (wet) season results are similar, but a few points lower. Allocative inefficiency is due to overuse of labour, suggesting population pressure, and of fertiliser, where recommended rates may warrant revision. Second-stage regressions show that large families are more inefficient, whereas farmers with better access to input markets, and those who do less off-farm work, tend to be more efficient. The information on the sources of inter-farm performance differentials could be used by the extension agents to help inefficient farmers. There is little excuse for such sub-optimal use of survey data, which are often collected at substantial costs.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/107892
Identification Number/DOI	10.1111/j.1477-9552.2002.tb00040.x
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items
Publisher	Wiley
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