Technical Efficiency and Optimum Use of Inputs in Production of Apple in KB Province, Iran

ABSTRACT: Kohgiluyeh-va-Boyerahmad (KB) province is the tenth apple producer province in Iran. Due to weather conditions, climate and having good potential, planting and cultivation of the apple in north of this province has good advantage. So, based on production, apple is the first product and based on the area under cultivation, apple is the second horticultural product, after the walnut, in this province. The main objective of this study is to investigate the use of rational amount of inputs by apple growers and evaluate their technical efficiency. The statistical population in this study is the apple growers. In order to achieve the research objectives, the statics and related data were collected by survey methodology. The results showed that about 82.6% variability of dependent variables (the amount of the apple produced) are explained by independent variables including land, fertilizer, manure, pesticide, the number of irrigation and workers. The results of the elasticity of production inputs indicated that the growers, based on using the land, performed in third area of production function and based on using the pesticide performed in first area of production function. The way of using the manure inputs and labor force were both economic and in second area of production function. The estimation results of stochastic frontier production of the apple showed that the technical efficiency average in growers was 76%. Based on the application of new technologies in production of the apple, the technical efficiency difference between the best grower and weakest grower was calculated 46%. Therefore, there is very high potential in production of the apple in KB province by improving the technical efficiency in apple growers.