Examining the relationship between farm size and productive efficiency: a Bayesian directional distance function approach

Achieving sustainable food security and increased farm income will depend on how efficient production systems are in converting available inputs to produce outputs. Using data from Malawi, we estimate a Bayesian directional technology distance function to examine the relationship between farm size a...

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Autores principales: Khataza, R.R., Hailu, A., Doole, G.J., Kragt, M.E., Alene, A.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Wiley 2019
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100305
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author Khataza, R.R.
Hailu, A.
Doole, G.J.
Kragt, M.E.
Alene, A.
author_browse Alene, A.
Doole, G.J.
Hailu, A.
Khataza, R.R.
Kragt, M.E.
author_facet Khataza, R.R.
Hailu, A.
Doole, G.J.
Kragt, M.E.
Alene, A.
author_sort Khataza, R.R.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Achieving sustainable food security and increased farm income will depend on how efficient production systems are in converting available inputs to produce outputs. Using data from Malawi, we estimate a Bayesian directional technology distance function to examine the relationship between farm size and technical efficiency. Our results support the existence of an inverse relationship between farm size and productive efficiency, where small farms are more efficient than large farms. On average, farms exhibit inefficiency levels of 60%, suggesting that productivity could be improved substantially. Improving productive efficiency and food security will require farms to operate in ways where the size of cultivated area is matched by nonland production inputs such as labor, fertilizer, and improved seeds. The results highlight the need for policies that could incentivize farmers to adopt productivity‐enhancing technologies and, where possible, to allocate excess land to lease markets.
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spelling CGSpace1003052023-06-12T21:38:09Z Examining the relationship between farm size and productive efficiency: a Bayesian directional distance function approach Khataza, R.R. Hailu, A. Doole, G.J. Kragt, M.E. Alene, A. productivity efficiency africa technical aid small farms farm size Achieving sustainable food security and increased farm income will depend on how efficient production systems are in converting available inputs to produce outputs. Using data from Malawi, we estimate a Bayesian directional technology distance function to examine the relationship between farm size and technical efficiency. Our results support the existence of an inverse relationship between farm size and productive efficiency, where small farms are more efficient than large farms. On average, farms exhibit inefficiency levels of 60%, suggesting that productivity could be improved substantially. Improving productive efficiency and food security will require farms to operate in ways where the size of cultivated area is matched by nonland production inputs such as labor, fertilizer, and improved seeds. The results highlight the need for policies that could incentivize farmers to adopt productivity‐enhancing technologies and, where possible, to allocate excess land to lease markets. 2019-03 2019-03-14T11:02:55Z 2019-03-14T11:02:55Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100305 en Limited Access Wiley Khataza, R.R., Hailu, A., Doole, G.J., Kragt, M.E. & Alene, A. (2019). Examining the relationship between farm size and productive efficiency: a Bayesian directional distance function approach. Agricultural Economics, 50(2), 237-246.
spellingShingle productivity
efficiency
africa
technical aid
small farms
farm size
Khataza, R.R.
Hailu, A.
Doole, G.J.
Kragt, M.E.
Alene, A.
Examining the relationship between farm size and productive efficiency: a Bayesian directional distance function approach
title Examining the relationship between farm size and productive efficiency: a Bayesian directional distance function approach
title_full Examining the relationship between farm size and productive efficiency: a Bayesian directional distance function approach
title_fullStr Examining the relationship between farm size and productive efficiency: a Bayesian directional distance function approach
title_full_unstemmed Examining the relationship between farm size and productive efficiency: a Bayesian directional distance function approach
title_short Examining the relationship between farm size and productive efficiency: a Bayesian directional distance function approach
title_sort examining the relationship between farm size and productive efficiency a bayesian directional distance function approach
topic productivity
efficiency
africa
technical aid
small farms
farm size
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100305
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