IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v5y2021i2p434-444.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Assessment of Economic Efficiency of Smallholder Irish Potato Producers in Nyanga District of Zimbabwe

Author

Listed:
  • Ruvaraishe Tapera

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Development, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences)

  • Dube Phamela

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Development, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences)

  • Nyasha Chipunza

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Development, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the technical and resource use efficiency of the smallholder potato farmers in Nyanga District. Measuring the efficiency levels at farm level will help inform whether farmers are using the production resources to full potential given that efficiency can be used as an indication of performance A purposive sampling method was employed in selecting 10 villages with Irish potato producers, 180 respondents were selected using the systematic random sampling method. The Stochastic Frontier Approach with the application of the Cobb Douglas function and inefficiency was used to analyse technical efficiency while allocative efficiency of the production inputs was measured using Marginal Productivity Analysis. The results show that the mean technical efficiency is estimated at 55.5% with a minimum of 4.6% and a maximum of 84.2%. Seed, labour and fertilizers positively contributed towards the improvement in the level of efficiency. The analysis further revealed that age of the farmer negatively influenced technical efficiency and experience positively influenced efficiency. The results also show that the farmers are operating at increasing returns to scale with returns to scale coefficient of 1.131. Computed allocative efficiency indices of the inputs showed that seed (0.305) was over utilized while fertilizer (1.207) and labour (5.833) were underutilized. The analysis shows that 79% of the variation in the Irish potato output is as a result of technical inefficiency. In order to enhance technical efficiency levels of the farmers the government and stakeholders in the potato sector should facilitate training and support programmes targeted for younger farmers to encourage them to engage in production of the crop. Improved farmer’s education will help farmers to allocate their production resources more efficiently. Use of improved quality seed reduces the replanting and overutilization of seed in potato production. Adherence to recommended production practices can also ensure that fertilizers are used at economic rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruvaraishe Tapera & Dube Phamela & Nyasha Chipunza, 2021. "An Assessment of Economic Efficiency of Smallholder Irish Potato Producers in Nyanga District of Zimbabwe," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 5(2), pages 434-444, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:5:y:2021:i:2:p:434-444
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-5-issue-2/434-444.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/virtual-library/papers/an-assessment-of-economic-efficiency-of-smallholder-irish-potato-producers-in-nyanga-district-of-zimbabwe/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Battese, George E., 1992. "Frontier production functions and technical efficiency: a survey of empirical applications in agricultural economics," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 7(3-4), pages 185-208, October.
    2. Battese, G E & Coelli, T J, 1995. "A Model for Technical Inefficiency Effects in a Stochastic Frontier Production Function for Panel Data," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 325-332.
    3. Grasian Mkodzongi & Peter Lawrence, 2019. "The fast-track land reform and agrarian change in Zimbabwe," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(159), pages 1-13, January.
    4. repec:lje:journl:v:2:y:2006:i:2:p:1-22 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Abedullah & Khuda Bakhsh & Bashir Ahmad, 2006. "Technical Efficiency and its Determinants in Potato Production, Evidence from Punjab, Pakistan," Lahore Journal of Economics, Department of Economics, The Lahore School of Economics, vol. 11(2), pages 1-22, Jul-Dec.
    6. Aigner, Dennis & Lovell, C. A. Knox & Schmidt, Peter, 1977. "Formulation and estimation of stochastic frontier production function models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 21-37, July.
    7. Agerie Nega Wassihun & Tigabu Dagnew Koye & Abebe Dagnew Koye, 2019. "Analysis of technical efficiency of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production in Chilga District, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 8(1), pages 1-18, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dhehibi, Boubaker & Lachaal, Lassaad & Elloumi, Mohamed & Messaoud, Emna B., 2007. "Measurement and Sources of Technical Inefficiency in the Tunisian Citrus Growing Sector," 103rd Seminar, April 23-25, 2007, Barcelona, Spain 9391, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Coelli, Tim J. & Battese, George E., 1996. "Identification Of Factors Which Influence The Technical Inefficiency Of Indian Farmers," Australian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 40(2), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Wollni, Meike & Brümmer, Bernhard, 2012. "Productive efficiency of specialty and conventional coffee farmers in Costa Rica: Accounting for technological heterogeneity and self-selection," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 67-76.
    4. Mkhabela, Thulasizwe S., 2005. "Technical efficiency in a vegetable based mixed-cropping sector in Tugela Ferry, Msinga District, KwaZulu-Natal," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 44(2), pages 1-18, June.
    5. Olli-Pekka Kuusela & Maria S. Bowman & Gregory S. Amacher & Richard B. Howarth & Nadine T. Laporte, 2020. "Does infrastructure and resource access matter for technical efficiency? An empirical analysis of fishing and fuelwood collection in Mozambique," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1811-1837, March.
    6. Wasantha Athukorala & Clevo Wilson, 2012. "Groundwater overuse and farm-level technical inefficiency: evidence from Sri Lanka," School of Economics and Finance Discussion Papers and Working Papers Series 279, School of Economics and Finance, Queensland University of Technology.
    7. Imori, Denise & Guilhoto, Joaquim José Martins & Postali, Fernando Antonio Slaibe, 2012. "Eficiência técnica das agropecuárias familiar e patronal – diferenças regionais no Brasil [Technical efficiency of agricultural households and business - regional differences in Brazil]," MPRA Paper 46954, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Madau, Fabio A., 2005. "Technical Efficiency in Organic Farming: An Application on Italian Cereal Farms Using a Parametric Approach," 2005 International Congress, August 23-27, 2005, Copenhagen, Denmark 24545, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    9. Fabio Pieri & Enrico Zaninotto, 2010. "The Impact of Vertical Integration and Outsourcing on Firm Efficiency: Evidence from the Italian Machine Tool Industry," DISA Working Papers 1001, Department of Computer and Management Sciences, University of Trento, Italy, revised 11 Mar 2010.
    10. Holger Seebens & Johannes Sauer, 2007. "Bargaining power and efficiency-rural households in Ethiopia," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 19(7), pages 895-918.
    11. Liu, Xiao-Yan & Pollitt, Michael G. & Xie, Bai-Chen & Liu, Li-Qiu, 2019. "Does environmental heterogeneity affect the productive efficiency of grid utilities in China?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 333-344.
    12. Illukpitiya, Prabodh & Yanagida, John F., 2010. "Farming vs forests: Trade-off between agriculture and the extraction of non-timber forest products," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 1952-1963, August.
    13. Anik, Asif Reza & Bauer, Siegfried, 2015. "Impact of resource ownership and input market access on Bangladeshi paddy growers’ efficiency," International Journal of Agricultural Management, Institute of Agricultural Management, vol. 4(3), April.
    14. Viveka P. Kudaligama & John F. Yanagida, 2000. "A Comparison of Intercountry Agricultural Production Functions: A Frontier Function Approach," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 25(1), pages 57-74, June.
    15. Voigt, Peter, 2004. "Russlands Weg vom Plan zum Markt: Sektorale Trends und regionale Spezifika. Eine Analyse der Produktivitäts- und Effizienzentwicklungen in der Transformationsphase," Studies on the Agricultural and Food Sector in Transition Economies, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), volume 28, number 93021.
    16. Sherlund, Shane M. & Barrett, Christopher B. & Adesina, Akinwumi A., 2002. "Smallholder technical efficiency controlling for environmental production conditions," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 85-101, October.
    17. Bekele, Abate & Viljoen, Machiel F. & Ayele, Gezahegn & Ali, Syed, 2009. "Effect of Farm Size on Efficiency of Wheat Production in Moretna-Jirru District in Central Ethiopia," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 64(1), pages 1-11.
    18. Villano, Renato A. & Fleming, Euan M., 2004. "Analysis of Technical Efficiency in a Rainfed Lowland Rice Environment in Central Luzon Philippines Using a Stochastic Frontier Production Function with a Heteroskedastic Error Structure," Working Papers 12906, University of New England, School of Economics.
    19. Widanage, Rupananda & Chan, Catherine & Tsanga, Yin-Phan & Sipes, Brent & Melakeberhan, Haddish & Sanchez-Perez, Amílcar & Mejía-Coroy, Alfredo, 2022. "Enhancing Technical Efficiency and Economic Welfare: A Case Study of Smallholder Potato Farming in the Western Highlands of Guatemala," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 24(1), February.
    20. Tim J. Coelli, 1995. "Recent Developments In Frontier Modelling And Efficiency Measurement," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 39(3), pages 219-245, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:5:y:2021:i:2:p:434-444. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.