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A Stochastic Frontier Approach for Measuring Technical Efficiencies of Date Farms in Southern Tunisia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2016

Mounir Belloumi  and
Mohamed Salah Matoussi
Mounir Belloumi
Affiliation:
Economic Sciences in the Faculty of Law, Economics, and Political Sciences at the University of Sousse in Sousse, Tunisia
Mohamed Salah Matoussi
Affiliation:
Economic Sciences in the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management at the University of EI Manar in Tunis, Tunisia
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Abstract

The main objective of this research is to compare estimates of technical efficiency obtained from the stochastic frontier approach for two samples of farmers of private and water user associations in the Nefzaoua Oases region (Tunisia), which are characterized by a severe scarcity of water and especially a high degree of salinity. Technical inefficiency effects are modeled as a function of farm-specific socioeconomic factors. Results suggest that both systems are technically inefficient. On average, the private system is found to be slightly more efficient than the associative one. Date yield could be explained mainly by four variables: water quantity applied per palm tree, labor per palm tree, phosphate per palm tree, and water salinity. Output elasticities of all inputs are found to be positive and significant except for the farmyard manure. Water salinity has a considerable negative impact on date productivity. For the technical inefficiency model, none of the socioeconomic variables seem to matter.

Keywords

salinizationprivate and GIC systemstechnical efficiencyNefzaoua oasesdate productiongroundwater management
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Agricultural and Resource Economics Review , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , October 2006 , pp. 285 - 298
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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