Evaluation of Efficiency in Agricultural Sector of Iran and Regional Countries by Using Combined Linear Programming and Promethee

In this paper, the efficiency of selected countries in agriculture activities is evaluated by using linear programming. Knowing the fact that there are two main Parametric and Nonparametric methods for measuring the efficiency, the Nonparametric method based on the mathematical programming and specifically Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) is applied to evaluate the efficiency of Iran and 18 regional countries under two assumptions of constant and variable return to scale in the year 2004. Then, the Promethee method is used to prioritize the efficient countries. The results show that under the first assumption, countries such as Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran out of the selected countries have the most efficiency, and the average efficiency is equal to 0.546. Under the second assumption, Kazakhstan and Yemen are added to the efficient countries and the average efficiency is equal to 0.701 Finally, it is proposed that inefficient countries should make Emirates as a model in efficiency for themselves.

JEL Classification: D61 ,C44,N5