Comparison and Analysis Efficiency of Saffron Farmers in Selected Township of Khorasan Razavi Province

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Abstract

Abstract
Saffron is one of the important productions in Khorasan Razavi Province; therefore the purpose of this article is calculation and comparison efficiency of saffron farmers in Torbat-e- Heydariyeh, Gonabad and Ghayen using stochastic frontier production function. Data were collected from 248 questionnaires in 2010. According to results of stochastic frontier production function of saffron, some variables such as land, labor, fertilizer, and water have a positive and significant effect on saffron production in these areas. Besides of these variables, amount of onion and animal fertilizer consumption have a significant effect on saffron production in Torbat-e- Heydariyeh. Estimating the nonefficiency function in this town, indicate that age and education have negative and significant effect on technical nonefficiency. In Gonabad, some variables such as age and number of land have significant effect on technical nonefficiency but, in Ghayen, age, education, number of land and nonfarm job have significant effect on it. Average of technical efficiency in Torbat-e- Heydariyeh, Gonabad and Ghayen was calculated about 86, 83 and 84 percent respectively. Also, average of allocative efficiency in Torbat-e- Heydariyeh, Gonabad and Ghayen was calculated about 78, 75 and 75 percent respectively. In addition, average of economic efficiency in Torbat-e- Heydariyeh, Gonabad and Ghayen was calculated about 67, 62 and 63 percent respectively. According to findings, it is seemed that correct management of inputs consumption will led to increase efficiency of saffron farmers.
JEL Classification: G14, M31
Keywords:
Khorasan Razavi, Torbat-e- Heydariyeh, Gonabad, Ghayen, Saffron, Efficiency