Cost efficiency, Morishima, Allen-Uzawa and cross-price elasticities among Irish potato farmers in Dedza District, Malawi

Malawi has experienced a forward shift in its demand for Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) consumption. Given limited resources at farmers' disposal, meeting the growing demand will require farmers to follow the efficient path of the farm production resources. This paper, therefore, is an attempt to...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Assa, M.M., Edriss, A.K., Matchaya, Greenwell C.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40184
_version_ 1855528848878206976
author Assa, M.M.
Edriss, A.K.
Matchaya, Greenwell C.
author_browse Assa, M.M.
Edriss, A.K.
Matchaya, Greenwell C.
author_facet Assa, M.M.
Edriss, A.K.
Matchaya, Greenwell C.
author_sort Assa, M.M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Malawi has experienced a forward shift in its demand for Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) consumption. Given limited resources at farmers' disposal, meeting the growing demand will require farmers to follow the efficient path of the farm production resources. This paper, therefore, is an attempt to measure the cost efficiency of smallholder Irish potato farmers in Dedza district of Malawi using a translog cost function, inefficiency effect model and input elasticities derived from a system of cost share equations estimated by Iterated Seeming Unrelated Regression method. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 200 Irish potato farmers in Dedza in 2011 from whom input-output data and their prices were obtained. Results indicate that the mean cost efficiency of Irish potato production in Dedza District is 0.67 with scores ranging between 0.15 and 0.94. The cost efficiency differences are significantly explained by non-farm employment, education, credit access, farm experience, degree of specialization, household size and frequency of weeding. The highest input substitution existed between labour and fertilizer, followed by seed-fertilizer. One policy issue is raised; credit should be extended to Irish potato farmers to enable them purchase farm inputs.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace40184
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2013
publishDateRange 2013
publishDateSort 2013
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace401842023-06-12T15:46:23Z Cost efficiency, Morishima, Allen-Uzawa and cross-price elasticities among Irish potato farmers in Dedza District, Malawi Assa, M.M. Edriss, A.K. Matchaya, Greenwell C. potatoes farmers costs regression analysis Malawi has experienced a forward shift in its demand for Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) consumption. Given limited resources at farmers' disposal, meeting the growing demand will require farmers to follow the efficient path of the farm production resources. This paper, therefore, is an attempt to measure the cost efficiency of smallholder Irish potato farmers in Dedza district of Malawi using a translog cost function, inefficiency effect model and input elasticities derived from a system of cost share equations estimated by Iterated Seeming Unrelated Regression method. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 200 Irish potato farmers in Dedza in 2011 from whom input-output data and their prices were obtained. Results indicate that the mean cost efficiency of Irish potato production in Dedza District is 0.67 with scores ranging between 0.15 and 0.94. The cost efficiency differences are significantly explained by non-farm employment, education, credit access, farm experience, degree of specialization, household size and frequency of weeding. The highest input substitution existed between labour and fertilizer, followed by seed-fertilizer. One policy issue is raised; credit should be extended to Irish potato farmers to enable them purchase farm inputs. 2013 2014-06-13T14:47:07Z 2014-06-13T14:47:07Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40184 en Open Access Assa, M. M.; Edriss, A-K.; Matchaya, Greenwell. 2013. Cost efficiency, Morishima, Allen-Uzawa and cross-price elasticities among Irish potato farmers in Dedza District, Malawi. International Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research, 6(1):59-73.
spellingShingle potatoes
farmers
costs
regression analysis
Assa, M.M.
Edriss, A.K.
Matchaya, Greenwell C.
Cost efficiency, Morishima, Allen-Uzawa and cross-price elasticities among Irish potato farmers in Dedza District, Malawi
title Cost efficiency, Morishima, Allen-Uzawa and cross-price elasticities among Irish potato farmers in Dedza District, Malawi
title_full Cost efficiency, Morishima, Allen-Uzawa and cross-price elasticities among Irish potato farmers in Dedza District, Malawi
title_fullStr Cost efficiency, Morishima, Allen-Uzawa and cross-price elasticities among Irish potato farmers in Dedza District, Malawi
title_full_unstemmed Cost efficiency, Morishima, Allen-Uzawa and cross-price elasticities among Irish potato farmers in Dedza District, Malawi
title_short Cost efficiency, Morishima, Allen-Uzawa and cross-price elasticities among Irish potato farmers in Dedza District, Malawi
title_sort cost efficiency morishima allen uzawa and cross price elasticities among irish potato farmers in dedza district malawi
topic potatoes
farmers
costs
regression analysis
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40184
work_keys_str_mv AT assamm costefficiencymorishimaallenuzawaandcrosspriceelasticitiesamongirishpotatofarmersindedzadistrictmalawi
AT edrissak costefficiencymorishimaallenuzawaandcrosspriceelasticitiesamongirishpotatofarmersindedzadistrictmalawi
AT matchayagreenwellc costefficiencymorishimaallenuzawaandcrosspriceelasticitiesamongirishpotatofarmersindedzadistrictmalawi