1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

Technical efficiency of horticulture farms in Balochistan, Pakistan : a stochastic production frontier analysis

AuthorMurtaza, Ghulam
Call NumberAIT RSPR no.RD-10-03
Subject(s)Hill farming--Pakistan--Balochistan
Horticultural crops--Pakistan--Balochistan

NoteA research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Regional and Rural Development Planning
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
Series Statement
AbstractThe purposes of this research study were to analyze the pace of growth in area of cultivation, production and yield of fruit crops and to measure the technical efficiency of these farms and subsequently try to explore the determinants of technical inefficiency in the highlands of Balochistan, province of Pakistan. The choice of selecting the growth trend models from among the best available alternatives was made through powerful statistical and econometric criteria of test of goodness of fit. For the estimation of technical efficiency, the parametric method of stochastic frontier production function under Cobb-Douglas model was used. The study used district-wise secondary data of Balochistan for the period of 1987-88 to 2006-07. The findings revealed that the overall growth in area under fruit cultivation was the highest with an annual compound growth rate of 9.77 percent followed by production 3.42 percent through out the period. The growth performance of the yields was significantly negative with annual compound growth rate of -5.78 percent.Results regarding TE revealed that on the average the out put of fruit farms could be increased by 35 percent given the existing resources and technology. The mean technical efficiency in the selected districts ranged from 44 to 75 with an average of 65 percent. The factors of health,rainfall and agriculture credit showed positive relationship with technical efficiency. However the variables of rural literacy rate, agriculture research funds and household size showed negative relationship with efficiency scores. It was proposed that farmers‟ easy access to credit and health facilities should be made certain and drought resistant fruit varieties should be innovated to enhance efficiencies.
Year2010
Corresponding Series Added Entry
TypeResearch Study Project Report (RSPR)
SchoolSchool of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD)
DepartmentDepartment of Development and Sustainability (DDS)
Academic Program/FoSRural Development, Gender and Resources (RD)
Chairperson(s)Thapa, Gopal Bahadur
Examination Committee(s)Routray, Jayant Kumar;Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad
Scholarship Donor(s)University of Balochistan Quetta, Pakistan;Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship
DegreeResearch studies project report (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2010


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