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Technical Efficiency of Potato Production in Some Selected Areas of Rangpur District of Bangladesh

M. M. A. Sarkar
Manager (Operation)
Apex Organic Soya Industries Limited, Gobindaganj, Gaibandha

F. Yesmin
Officer
Sonali Bank Limited, Fulbaria, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Technical efficiency of potato production in Bangladesh was carried out considering 60 farmers of Rangpur district. The period of the data collection covered from winter and summer season of 2012-2013. The results indicated that the range of technical efficiency varied from 60-99%. The mean efficiency of the potato producers was 88.6% which indicated that they made a production loss of 11.4% due to inefficiency factors. Farmers with 2^ndweek of December sowing (84.2%) were technically more efficient than the farmers with 1^st week of December sowing. So, 2^nd week in December sowing have positive impact on achieving higher technical efficiency of potato production. Farmer’s with 3^rd week of March harvest (85.6%) were technically more efficient than the farmers with 4^th week of March harvest. So, harvest date in 3^rd week of March have positive impact on increasing technical efficiency of potato producers. In all farms, technical efficiency was much higher (82.4%) for the farmers who use medium high land for potato production than the farmers who did not uses medium high land. So, land type highly influenced technical efficiency of potato production in the study area. Technical efficiency was much higher (86.5%) for the farmers who cultivate potato in sandy loam soil than the farmers who cultivate others type of soil. In all farms technical efficiency was much higher (82.5%) for the farmers who use cardinals variety for potato production than the farmers who used other varieties. So, potato varieties highly influence the technical efficiency of potato production in the study area. On the other hand, the technical efficiency of vegetable-rice-potato cropping pattern was higher than the farmers who did not use cardinals. So, vegetable-rice-potato cropping pattern highly influenced technical efficiency of potato production in the study area. In the study area, the farmers who contacted frequently with Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer are technically more efficient than who contacted less. Therefore, maintaining of optimum sowing and harvesting time,use of medium high land, use of sandy loam soil and maintain vegetable-rice-potato cropping pattern are important factors for obtaining maximum achievable yield.

Keywords: Technical efficiency, Potato, Stochastic Frontier production function, Cropping pattern, Bangladesh

Location: Villages of Rangpur sadar thana under Rangpur district

Start Date: 00-00-2012

End Date: 00-00-2013

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Potato

Objectives:

To estimate the level of technical efficiency of potato production and factors affecting inefficiency in potato farms of Rangpur district of Bangladesh using the stochastic frontier production function.

Methodology:

Selection of the study area: Production economics investigation is generally done by selecting an area where the concerned crop is grown widely. Rangpur district was selected particularly as it is one of the leading potatoes producing areas of Bangladesh. A preliminary survey was conducted in some villages of Rangpur sadar thana under Rangpur district to gather knowledge about the potato production, productivity and efficiency of the potato growers. After preliminary visit three village’s namely Uttor Tumput, Dhakin Tumput and Fatemanogor were selected randomly as the study area. Period of the study: The period of the data collection covered from winter and summer season of 2012-2013. Selection of the sample and sampling techniques: A random sampling technique was applied for selecting sample. Through random sampling 60 farmers were selected for the study. Among the 60 farmers, 24 were marginal, 22 were small and 14 were medium. Farm size was arbitrarily classified on the basis of their land where they produce potato and other crops. Farmers having 50 decimal lands were considered as marginal farmers, 51 to 100 decimal as small farmers while those having 101 and above lands as medium farmers. It should be noted that no lands or having less than 50 decimal lands were not included in the present study. Preparation of survey schedule: In conformity with the objectives of the study, a preliminary survey questionnaire was designed for recording data from the farmers. After pre-testing, the questionnaire necessary corrections and modifications were made and then the questionnaire was finalized. The questions were arranged in logical sequences. Methods of collecting data: The data for the present study were collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected by the researcher himself through personal interview with the respondents. To attain accuracy and reliability of data, care and caution were taken in data collection. Before interviewing, the aims and objectives of the study were explained to each and every owner of the potato growers. Processing and analysis of data: Collected data were scrutinized and summarized for the purpose of tabulation. Data were transferred to a master sheet and complied with a view to facilitating classified. Technical efficiency analysis by Frontier 4.1 software. Two types of model namely Cobb-Douglas and translog also applied to measure the technical efficiency. Technical Efficiency Analysis: A production function was used to examine the effect application of various inputs for producing potato. Among the production function it is generally urged that the Cobb-Douglas production function is more appropriate that in the concept of Agriculture production. Seminar article on efficiency measurement led to the development of several approaches to efficiency and productivity analysis. Among these, the stochastic frontier production and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) are the two principal methods and for detailed information on efficiency measurement using the stochastic production frontier and DEA, including their strength, weakness, and estimation procedures. The stochastic frontier is considered more appropriate than DEA in agricultural applications, especially in developing countries, where the data are likely to be heavily influenced by the measurement errors and the effects of weather conditions, diseases etc. Empirical Model: Two types of function namely; Cobb-Douglas and translog dominate the technical efficiency literature. In this study, we assume that the Cobb-Douglas is the appropriate form of the frontier production function. The stochastic production function which is used for the potato producers was specified as: Cobb-Douglas production function model: The stochastic production function which is used for the potato producers.

Source of Information: Int. J. Expt. Agric. 4(2):5-11, (2014)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In Rangpur district, farmers with 2^nd week of December sowing were technically more efficient than the farmers with 1^st week of October. Farmer’s with 3^rd week of March harvest were technically more efficient than the farmers with 4^th week of March. In all farms technical efficiency was much higher for the farmers who use medium high land for potato production than the farmers who did not use medium high land. In all farm categories, technical efficiency was much higher for the farmers who use sandy loam soil for potato production than the farmers who used others type of soil. In all farms technical efficiency was much higher for the farmers who use Cardinal variety followed by other variety. For the inefficiency variables, farm size had significant impact on the return from potato. The average technical efficiency is 88.6% which meant that average inefficiency appeared to be 11.4%. This implies that appropriate training to farmers on potato production, maintaining of optimum sowing and harvesting time, use of medium high land, use of sandy loam soil, maintaining vegetable-rice-potato cropping pattern and ensuing quality seeds can play an important role in minimizing the technical efficiency to a considerable extent.

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