ISSN 2375-0693
African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Determination of technical efficiency in cotton growing farms in Turkey: A case study of Cukurova region
Mevlut Gul1*, Besir Koc2, Erdal Dagistan3, M. Goksel Akpinar4 and O uz Parlakay5
1Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
2Bingol University, Faculty of Agriculture, Bingol, Turkey.
3Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
4Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
5Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
Accepted 04 February, 2019
Abstract
This paper analyses technical efficiency of cotton farms in Çukurova region in Turkey. Data was collected from cotton farms through a questionnaire study. Data collection was carried out following 2004-2005 growing seasons. Technical efficiency of cotton farms was estimated by using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and technical efficiency scores were calculated employing an input oriented DEA. Tobit regression analysis was used to identify determinants of technical efficiency. Results indicate that cotton farmers can save inputs by at least 20% while remaining at the same production level. Factors strongly affecting efficiency level of the farmers were found to be farmers’ age, education level and groups of cotton growing areas.
Key words: Efficiency, data envelopment analysis, cotton, Turkey.