Estimating technical efficiency of vegetable farmers in Anuradhapura district in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Promotion of technical efficiency is an important policy goal for the entire agricultural sector. This study aims at delivering empirical evidence on the level of technical efficiency of Vegetable farmers by analysing farm level data covering approximately 450 vegetable farmers in Anuradhapura district in Sri Lanka. The study focuses only commercial level vegetable farmers who cultivate only different type of vegetable varieties in their farms. The empirical results indicate that more than 80 % of the sampled farmers were less than 55% technically efficient. It was also found that farming experience, household size, agricultural extension services and level of educational attainment reduces technical inefficiency, while farmers’ age increases technical inefficiency. Policies that would improve farmer’s educational status through adult education and agricultural extension services would increase technical efficiency of vegetable farms in the long term.