Investigation of Technical, Allocative and Economic Efficiency of Pistachio Producers in Sirjan

Pistachio is important economically because it is one of the main export products of Iran agricultural sector. So studding the technical efficiency of pistachio producers is very important factor and affecting the increase production and yield. The main objective of this paper is determination of different efficiencies and factors affecting upon technical efficiency for Sirjan pistachio producers as one of the important parts of the country's pistachio production. For this purpose by two-stage cluster sampling method 197 pistachio producers were selected in Sirjan. Data were collected by questionnaire for the years 2009-2010. Then using stochastic frontier analysis method, the average different efficiencies was calculated and factors affecting upon technical efficiency was surveyed. The results showed that the average technical, allocative and economic efficiency of pistachio producers was 71.88, 53.62 and 11.38 percent and there was a direct and significant relation among levels of production and variables of water, fertilizer, pesticide, machinery, labor and area of land under pistachio. The estimation of technical inefficiency showed that there is a negative and significant relation between age and educational levels of farmers with technical inefficiency. So it is suggested that for increasing the efficiency, periods of educational and propagation about optimal use of inputs, application suitable management and more efficient use of technology were executed. JEL Classification: C31, D24, H21, Q19 Keywords: Stochastic Frontier Analysis, Sirjan, Pistachio, Technical Efficiency