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Input and output technical efficiency and total factor productivity of wheat production in Tunisia
Abstract and Figures
This paper investigates farm level technical efficiency of production and its determinants in a sample of 51 cereal producing farms in Tunisia that focus on wheat production. The empirical findings show that the labor input factor has a minimal effect on production. In addition, the technical efficiency of wheat production in the sample varied widely, ranging from 52.63 to 94.62%, with a mean value of 77%. This suggests that, on average, wheat producing farmers could increase their production by as much as 23% through more efficient use of production inputs. The results of Timmer and Kopp indexes of technical inefficiency show that the level of inefficiency was related to farm size: small and large farms were shown to be more technically efficient than medium-sized farms. Alternatively, inputs could be reduced by 17% on average to produce the same quantity of wheat output. These results call for policies aimed at providing training programs and extension services and improving input management by wheat farmers.
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... Another study by Amor and Muller [26], using the same approach, estimated the TE of farms specialized in grain production across different regions in Tunisia and reported an average efficiency level of 0.77. In addition, Dhehibi et al. [27] found similar results for wheat farmers in Beja governorate. Compared to prior findings, the DEA suggested a lower TE rating (71%) for wheat producers in Chebika region (Central Tunisia), relying on irrigated production systems [28]. ...
... At the political level, different policies have been conceived to use alternative practices that improve productivity and efficiency levels. For instance, farmers are encouraged to adopt certified and improved varieties, sustainable agricultural practices, and new irrigation and fertilization techniques and be supported with production costs (well, capital, and building investments) [27,28]. In this context, assessing the performance of farms would provide valuable information for policymakers and stakeholders involved in the COP supply chain. ...
... Bachta and Chebil [21] and Amor and Muller [26] using the SFA method and Chebil et al. [28] using the non-parametric technique reported slightly higher averages of TE scores among a sample of cereal farms located in other production zones in Tunisia, which are 74%, 77%, and 71%, respectively. Dhehibi et al. [27] found a similar TE performance for a sample specialized in wheat production in the governorate of Beja, whereas Abdelhafidh et al. [29] found a lower TE performance of 58% for rainfed wheat production in Zaghouan during 2015-2016. More recent studies [30,31] suggested that farmers specialized in wheat production could improve their performance levels by 28% and 15% by keeping their actual production technology process. ...
Cereal, oilseed, and protein (COP) production is an important sector contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Tunisia. COP farms often diversify their production patterns to stabilize their income sources and spread production risk across crops. However, crop diversity may entail an inefficient use and management of resources to achieve the desired output. In addition, the COP sector still shows a low productivity level, depending on weather conditions in Tunisia. In this context, this study aimed to assess the relationship between the land use pattern and efficiency performance of farms. We used data envelopment analysis (DEA) in the presence of uncertainty based on state-contingent techniques. This approach has not previously been used to examine the links between crop pattern and efficiency. We found that specialized COP farms, on average, exhibited higher technical efficiency levels than those adopted mix cropping systems (83% and 60%, respectively), indicating an important margin to reduce inefficiency. Nevertheless, both diversified and specialized farms could reduce their inefficiency levels through more rational input use to attain the current level of production. Some practical implications were derived to target policy interventions to enhance agricultural productivity and resource use efficiency.
... They found a mean efficiency score of 77%. Dhehibi et al. (2012) showed a similar TE level for a sample of wheat farms in the governorate of Beja. Using nonparametric DEA model, Chebil et al. (2015) obtained lower TE level compared to previous finding indicating that irrigated wheat farmers in Chebika region (Central Tunisia) reach, on average, about 71% of their maximum potential output assuming constant returns to scale. ...
... The irrigated area occupies 61 thousand hectares representing only less than 5% of the cultivated area, however, it contributes 12.5% to total cereal production [19]. Many policies reforms have been made to improve the cereal yield through encouraging farmers to adopt certified and high yielding varieties, improving management practices, intensification and extension of the irrigated area and subsidizing the costs of production and inputs [22,23]. It is important to evaluate the current situation and the future development of cereal sector in Tunisia. ...
... Previous researches, using alternative methods to assess case studies have derived different results. Our findings are within the range of existing estimates in the literature indicating a relatively close performance levels to those obtained from previous studies which offered more optimistic TE estimates [22,23,27]. Differences in TE estimates can be attributed to either the use of different approaches or the assessment of different production systems. ...
Family farming (FF) plays a key role in local economies that contribute to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) worlwilde and especially in developing countries. Since 2014, the international agenda of the united nations has paid more attention to promote FF at the core of agricultural, environmental and social policies. Accordingly, many efforts at the national, regional and global levels have been made to support FF. In this context, it is so relevant to define tools that help monitor farmers’ performance and assist in better targeting policy measures. The objective of this study is to assess to what extent Tunisian farms, specialized in cereals production, are technically and environmentally efficient. To do so, we use a methodological approach that integrates pollution considerations based on state contingent techniques. Our results indicate that technical efficiency of family farms is slightly lower in bad (59%) than in good (64%) growing conditions while environmental efficiency can be improved more under good (65%) than bad (70%) growing conditions.
... They found a mean efficiency score of 77%. Dhehibi et al. (2012) showed a similar TE level for a sample of wheat farms in the governorate of Beja. Using nonparametric DEA model, Chebil et al. (2015) obtained lower TE level compared to previous finding indicating that irrigated wheat farmers in Chebika region (Central Tunisia) reach, on average, about 71% of their maximum potential output assuming constant returns to scale. ...
... The irrigated area occupies 61 thousand hectares representing only less than 5% of the cultivated area, however, it contributes 12.5% to total cereal production [19]. Many policies reforms have been made to improve the cereal yield through encouraging farmers to adopt certified and high yielding varieties, improving management practices, intensification and extension of the irrigated area and subsidizing the costs of production and inputs [22,23]. It is important to evaluate the current situation and the future development of cereal sector in Tunisia. ...
... Previous researches, using alternative methods to assess case studies have derived different results. Our findings are within the range of existing estimates in the literature indicating a relatively close performance levels to those obtained from previous studies which offered more optimistic TE estimates [22,23,27]. Differences in TE estimates can be attributed to either the use of different approaches or the assessment of different production systems. ...
Family farming (FF) plays a key role in local economies that contribute to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) worlwilde and especially in developing countries. Since 2014, the international agenda of the united nations has paid more attention to promote FF at the core of agricultural, environmental and social policies. Accordingly, many efforts at the national, regional and global levels have been made to support FF. In this context, it is so relevant to define tools that help monitor farmers’ performance and assist in better targeting policy measures. The objective of this study is to assess to what extent Tunisian farms, specialized in cereals production, are technically and environmentally efficient. To do so, we use a methodological approach that integrates pollution considerations based on state contingent techniques. Our results indicate that technical efficiency of family farms is slightly lower in bad (59%) than in good (64%) growing conditions while environmental efficiency can be improved more under good (65%) than bad (70%) growing conditions.
... In both of the North African countries Morocco and Tunisia, the cereal sector plays an important role in agricultural production (Lhomme et al., 2009;Latiri et al., 2010). Under rainfed conditions, cereals occupy approximately 1.5 million hectares in Tunisia (Dhehibi et al., 2012;Ben Abdelmalek and Nouiri, 2020;Khammassi et al., 2020) and 5 million hectares in Morocco. Cereal fields are mainly located in the northern part of both countries, but also, to a limited extent, in the arid southern regions. ...
... Variations in annual cereal production are related to several factors, including the weed species spectrum (Slama et al., 2005;Annabi et al., 2009;Lhomme et al., 2009;Dhehibi et al., 2012;Radhouane, 2013;Khammassi et al., 2020). Rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) is an annual plant species of the ryegrass genus, which is a highly genetically diverse, cross-pollinated tribe (Heap and Knight, 1986;Bararpour et al., 2017). ...
Rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) is one of the most troublesome weeds in Moroccan and Tunisian cereal crop fields. In total, 19 rigid ryegrass field populations were randomly selected in northern wheat crop areas of Morocco and Tunisia to examine the patterns of herbicide resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)- and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicides. Greenhouse experiments confirmed reduced sensitivity to ALS- and/or ACCase-inhibiting herbicides in all L. rigidum populations. The occurrence of target-site resistance (TSR) was tested using high-throughput genotyping. The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled easy identification of causal mutations and confirmed the presence of ALS and ACCase mutations at specific codons conferring TSR. Thirteen populations showed resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides associated with point mutations in positions Pro-197-Thr, Pro-197-Ser, Pro-197-Leu, Pro-197-Gln and Trp-574-Leu, while resistance to ACCase-inhibiting herbicides was detected in 18 populations in positions Asp-2078-Val, Trp-2027-Cys, Ile-1781-Leu, Gly-2096-Ala, and Ile-2041-Asn of the enzymes conferring TSR. Additionally, dose–response experiments with pyroxsulam applied after the inhibition of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase by malathion showed an increase in sensitivity in two out of seven highly resistant (HR) rigid ryegrass populations. This demonstrates the presence of non-target-site resistance (NTSR) in some ryegrass populations. Further evidence of NTSR was investigated in dose–response experiments with pyroxsulam, following pretreatment with the glutathione S-transferase (GST) inhibitor 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD-Cl), which partially reversed resistance in only a few individuals of two L. rigidum populations. Hence, our study confirms the existence of multiple and cross-resistance to ALS- and ACCase-inhibiting herbicides in L. rigidum from Morocco and Tunisia with both TSR and NTSR mechanisms. These results emphasize local resistance management as an important tool to detect and mitigate gene flow from rigid ryegrass populations where resistance has evolved.
... In Tunisia, many studies focused on the performance of cereal sector, particularly in durum wheat crop (Dhehibi et al., 2012;Chebil et al., 2015;Laajimi et al., 2017), but there are rare studies interested in wheat yield gap difference (Chebil et al., 2014). At the international level, there are numerous studies on decomposition analysis on wheat gaps yield (Gaddi et al., 2002;Mohan, 2009;Rudrapur et al., 2015). ...
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the adoption of a new technological package on smallholders' income in the durum wheat-based production system in northwestern Tunisia starting in the cropping year 2014-2015. A sample of 106 farmers was selected; half of them (53) practiced a recommended technological package while the other half used usual farming techniques. Cobb-Douglas's production functions and Bisaliah's decomposition model were used for the analysis. Results show that the adopters of the recommended technological package had on average 43.11% higher income than the other farmers. The increase of the income is divided into two parts: 39.03% were attributed purely to the difference in technology and 4.08% were due to the difference in the input level. Among various inputs, seed cost (-9.79%) and till cost (-0.03%) contributed negatively to the income, whereas nitrogen application cost (4.29%), fungal disease cost (4.73%), soil turnover cost (3.61%), di-ammonium phosphate application cost (0.88%), harvest cost (0.19%) and weed cost (0.19 %) contributed positively to the income. Encouraging the recommended technological package is primordial to enhance income for small farmers and to reach the objective of food security for the country. RÉSUMÉ Cette étude vise l'analyse de l'effet de l'adoption du paquet technique sur les revenus des petits exploitants pratiquant un système de production à base de blé dur dans le nord-ouest de la Tunisie durant la campagne agricole 2014-2015. Un échantillon de 106 agriculteurs a été sélectionné ; la moitié d'entre eux (53) pratiquaient un paquet technique recommandé tandis que l'autre moitié utilisait les techniques agricoles traditionnelles. Les fonctions de production de Cobb-Douglas et le modèle de décomposition de Bisaliah ont été utilisés pour l'analyse. Les résultats montrent que les adoptants du paquet technique avaient en moyenne 43,11% de revenus de plus que les agriculteurs pratiquant la méthode traditionnelle. L'augmentation des revenus est divisée en deux parties: 39,03% étaient attribués uniquement à la différence de technologie et 4,08% étaient dus à la différence dans l'utilisation des intrants. Parmi les différents intrants, le coût des semences (-9,79%) et le coût du labour simple (-0,03%) ont contribué négativement aux revenus, tandis que le Annales de l'INRAT volume 94, 2021 Dhraief et al (2021) 128 coût d'application de l'azote (4,29%), le coût des maladies fongiques (4,73%), le coût du gros labour (3,61%), le coût d'application du phosphate de diammonium (0,88%), le coût de la récolte (0,19%) et le coût des mauvaises herbes (0,19%) ont contribué positivement au revenu. Il est primordial d'encourager l'adoption du paquet technique pour accroître les revenus des petits agriculteurs et atteindre l'objectif de sécurité alimentaire du pays.
... These are the parametric or stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and the nonparametric or data envelopment analysis (DEA). Stochastic frontier analysis has been used by many researchers like Goyal and Suhag (2003) for estimation of TE on wheat farms in northern India; Dhehibi et al. (2012) for estimation of TE of wheat production in Tunisia; and Asodiya et al. (2014) used for estimating resource use efficiency of wheat in south Gujarat. However, the DEA approach has recently been popularized in the estimation of efficiency in agriculture. ...
This study was conducted to estimate the technical efficiency of wheat production in major wheat-producing states of India using secondary data for the period 2000-01 to 2016-17. The area of study comprised those states which covered more than 80 per cent of wheat production in India, i.e., Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used to estimate the state-specific technical efficiency in wheat production. The results showed that the technical efficiency in wheat production increased over time The correlation coefficient between mean technical efficiency and growth rate of yield was strongly positive and highly significant, revealing that the higher technical efficiency was directly reflected in higher yield from wheat cultivation.
... Desbois (2002) La productivité totale des facteurs de production (PTF) est le rapport entre la production totale et la somme des charges variables (Following et Bride 2003). Selon Bamidele et al. (2008), Mbam et Edeh (2011), Dhehibi et al. (2012), la productivité est estimée par la formule suivante : ...
La désertification est un problème mondial qui touche 40% de la planète et au moins deux millions de personnes. Ce phénomène est le résultat de combinaison des facteurs directs et indirects; certains liés au climat et d’autres liés aux activités anthropiques. En Algérie, ce phénomène touche l’écosystème steppique (dont la région d’étude fait partie) caractérisé par une longue période de sécheresse avec une dégradation de la végétation. Cette étude a été réalisée dans le but de la connaissance du degré de conscience de la population de la région de Boussaâda sur ce grave phénomène ainsi que sur leurs connaissances des moyens de lutte. Il s’agit d’une série d’enquêtes portées sur 151 sujets au niveau des sites de Maader, Maiter, El Hamel et Oultem par un échantillonnage aléatoire. Les résultats ont montré que les populations interrogées ont participé positivement aux enquêtes due à l’importance du phénomène et le phénomène de désertification est vaincu dans l’âme et l’esprit des populations vivant à proximité des sites relativement sensible à la désertification.
Mots clés: Algérie, Boussaâda, désertification, population.
... thousand dinars for category 21 -30, and the lowest value of revenues is 20,738 thousand dinars for Category 1-10. Agricultural extension services: Agricultural extension services have a great impact on management, skill and efficiency used in agricultural production and agricultural development processes, through the use of modern agricultural technologies that increase production and productivity, reduce loss and waste, as well as reduce production costs (10). Table 3 show the importance of agricultural extension services for the crop wheat for the research sample for 2019. ...
The research aimed to measure the loss and waste of wheat farms, using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Although, loss has become a frightening reality due to the loss of large quantities of food produced by humans for human consumption, so Iraq possesses material capabilities, natural resources, and human beings, it is not self-sufficient, and the reason is the low yield per dounm of wheat, as the productivity rate ranged to 650 kg / dounm for the period 1990-2019. The one of the most important reasons for the decline in productivity is the loss and waste of wheat of post- harvest. And to identify the most important factors that work to reduce post-harvest wheat losses for wheat farmers at Baghdad, by use exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. So the results indicated that the most important factors that work to reduce losses are the duration of the crop remaining in the field after harvesting until the date of marketing it to the central silos by exposing the crop to environmental hazards, as well as attacking birds, rodents, stray animal feces, and what mixes of grains with soil. The correlation is positive and strong, at a rate of 97%, and the distance to the silo to which the crop is marketed and the logistical operations associated with it, such as crop transportation vehicles that do not comply with the conditions for the proper transportation of grains, as most of them are without cover and there are gaps and holes in them that facilitate the fall of the grains on the road is 80%, and it has a direct relationship as well. Also farmers could be increase their production without increasing economic resources by preserving wheat from loss and waste of post- harvest.
... There are many methods and analytical approaches to measure changes in productivity, as parameter analysis methods are used as methods of the aggregate production function, and nonparameterized methods of estimation adopted by them (Fischer, 1922), (Tornqvist, 1936), in addition to (Mamlquist, 1953) which is one of the most important indicators of measurement Changes in productivity, and relies on a data envelope analysis (DEA) to measure efficiency and changes in TFP productivity and identify the sources of changes in productivity through changes in technical competence and technological change, as the two most important components of the change in total productivity [18]. The Malmquist index can be decomposed into technical efficiency and technical change components. ...
Despite the conditions experienced by Egyptian agriculture, it still significant, especially to its share in the gross domestic product and direct and indirect employment opportunities that it provides to other sectors and providing it with raw materials for the industry. This paper aims to estimate the changes in the sources and components of the total productivity of the factors for the main cereal crops in Egypt in the presence and absence of carbon dioxide emissions, and estimate the environmental impact assessment of changes in the productivity of these crops. The study applied parameter analysis methods, and non-parameterized methods of estimation, in addition to (Malmquist, 1953) which is one of the most important indicators of measurement changes in productivity and relies on a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to measure efficiency and changes in TFP productivity and identify the sources of changes in productivity through changes in technical competence and technological change, as the two most important components of the change in total productivity.
Results: Wheat crop: By estimating the change in the different efficiencies of the wheat crop with CO2 emissions, it was clear that a decrease in technological change (TC) during the study period, and thus a decrease in the average change in the total factor productivity (TFP), while without CO2 emissions effect, the average change in the total factor productivity of (TFPc) indicates an increase in the actual wheat efficiency which is low due to the environmental impact of the emissions.
Rice crop: By estimating the change in the different efficiencies of the rice crop with CO2 emissions, it became clear that a decrease in the average technological change (TC), thus increasing the average change in the total factor productivity of the (TFP), whereas, without CO2 emissions, it was found that the average change in the total factor productivity of the (TFPc) for the study areas was higher.
Summer maize crop: It was clear that the average technological change (TC) for the summer maize crop with CO2 emissions, decreased during the study period, and therefore a decrease in the average change in the total factor productivity of the (TFP), but without co2, an increase in the annual average of the change in technical efficiency (TEC), and a decrease in the average technological change (TC), i.e. in the use of technology, and an increase in the average change in the total factor productivity (TFPc).
The value of technical efficiency with CO2 emissions is lower than without CO2 emissions, which means that the actual efficiency of wheat is low due to the environmental impact of emissions, which means that the Egyptian agricultural policy should focus more on increasing the rate of technological change or agricultural innovation.
Keywords: Total factor productivity (TFP); Malmquist index; cereal crops; CO2 emissions;
environmental impact.
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To evaluate the role of different levels of utilization on economic and energy indices of irrigated wheat production in Dehloran city of Ilam province, this study was conducted on three levels of land including 1-5, 5-10 and 10-15 Hectare. The sampling method was simple classification and energy indices included energy ratio, energy efficiency, energy intensity, net energy surplus and economic indices including production cost, gross value of production, net income and profit-to-cost ratio. Analysis of variance was performed with SPSS software and economic calculations with Excel software. The energy ratios for these levels were estimated to be 4.12, 5.20 and 5.77, respectively. Energy productivity was determined %17, %21, %23 Kg/MJ and energy intensity was 5/98, 4/81 and 4/44 MJ/Kg, respectively. The share of renewable energies of the total input energy at the investigated levels was %17, %18, %19 and non-renewable energies %83, %82 and %81 Estimated respectively. The profit-to-cost ratio was estimated to be 2.16, 2.60 and 2.95. Analysis of variance showed significant differences between treatments at the 01% error level for energy and economic indices. As the area under cultivation increased, the ratio of energy, energy productivity and profit-to-cost ratio increased and energy intensity and production cost per hectare decreased. The best treatment was 10-15 hectares. Therefore, formulation and implementation of necessary programs for land consolidation will improve the energy and economic index and increase the efficiency of the agricultural sector.
This study assessed the productivities of prevalent cassava-based farms in the large Guinea Savannah ecology of Nigeria. For the study, 160 cassava producing households were selected across the Kwara State Agricultural Development Project (KWADP) zones and interviewed. The study data were analysed using the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression methods. The study findings revealed the cassava/maize enterprise with a 4.4 TFP level as the most popular and most productive cassava-based enterprise. This was followed by the Cassava/Cowpea, Cassava/Maize/Guinea-corn and the Cassava/Melon systems with 4.1, 3.6 and 3.5 TFP levels respectively. The study also revealed that land, labour, educational status of the household head and the fertilizer input significantly influence the productivity levels in cassava-based farms. Therefore, to achieve increased crop yield per cost outlay in cassava-based production systems, the study recommends the enhancement of farmers' access to education and the encouragement of the use of land and labour saving technologies in the cassava cropping systems.
A measure of relative producer performance is often useful for policy purposes and the concept of economic efficiency provides a theoretical basis for such a measure. Yet several authors argue that the concept of efficiency and conventional efficiency measures are meaningless for the evaluation of real-world performance. This paper examines some of the issues and argues that producers' performance may be measured using the concept of technical efficiency. Alternative technical efficiency measures are examined including those of Timmer (1971) and Kopp (1981). A frontier production function is estimated for a cross-section of North West farms and these two measures are computed under various assumptions on the fixity of agricultural inputs.
The error term in the stochastic frontier model is of the form (v–u), where v is a normal error term representing pure randomness, and u is a non-negative error term representing technical inefficiency. The entire (v–u) is easily estimated for each observation, but a previously unsolved problem is how to separate it into its two components, v and u. This paper suggests a solution to this problem, by considering the expected value of u, conditional on (v–u). An explicit formula is given for the half-normal and exponential cases.
This article proposed a hybrid of a stochastic frontier regression. The proposed model and estimation differ from the conventional model of Aigner, Lovell, and Schmidt. The model combines a stochastic frontier regression and a truncated regression to estimate the production frontier with non-neutral shifting of the average production function. The truncated regression identifies the sources of efficiency. The article presents empirical evidence of non-neutral effects of the firm's characteristics—the age of the firms, the export ratio, and the R&D expenditure—on the frontier production function and production efficiency in the Taiwan's electronics industry.
Nonparametric analysis of technical efficiency for irrigated farms in the Madiun regency in the west-central part of East Java, Indonesia is conducted using linear programming techniques. This procedure allows the relative technical efficiency for each farm to be determined and for inefficiencies to be decomposed into pure technical inefficiency and scale inefficiency and does not require restrictions or assumptions regarding functional form to be placed on the data.Farmers in Madiun generally are efficient relative to each other. Farmers operating inefficiently do so more often because of scale inefficiencies rather than pure technical inefficiencies. A majority of the farms operate in the region of decreasing returns to scale rather than increasing returns to scale. Farmer age, the level of diversification of cropping activities, and high school education were found to be related to technical efficiency in the rainy season under irrigated conditions. Other socioeconomic factors were not statistically significant.The results imply that inefficient farms use excessive levels of inputs, particularly nitrogen fertilizer. This is perhaps due to the lingering effects of past input subsidization policies, particularly of fertilizers, in Indonesia, or to risk-reducing behavior. The results also imply that current government policies to encourage diversification of cropping practices in Java may lead to greater technical inefficiencies in production. In addition, extension education targeted to younger farmers with low levels of formal education would improve efficiency.
The purpose of this paper is to generalize the Farrell indexes of productive efficiency to nonhomothetic production technologies,
and at the same time maintain the cost interpretation of the Farrell measures. Since the generalized indexes rely heavily
on recent developments in the estimation of frontier cost and production functions, several frontier models are reviewed.
In addition to generalized indexes of technical, allocative, and overall productive efficiency, a variety of single-factor
efficiency measures are discussed. The applicability of the proposed efficiency measures is illustrated with a numerical example
of electric power generation.