Technical Efficiency, Determinants and Risks of Watermelon Production in Bangladesh

Abstract

See, stats, and : https : / / www. researchgate. net / publication / 316624715 Technical , Determinants of Article DOI : 10 . 9790 / 5933 - 0802045159 CITATIONS 0 READS 14 1 : Some : Factors Bishwajit Sylhet 3 SEE All . The . Abstract : The present study is conducted to examine the technical efficiency , identify factors causing inefficiency and assess farmer ' s perception on major sources of risk in producing watermelon in Bangladesh . In this purpose , a sample of 180 farmers has been selected by multistage stratified sampling technique from Patuakhali district due to the production intensity of watermelon coverage among various districts of Bangladesh . Data on farm - specific characteristics , output , input prices and costs during the production period of December , 2015 to April , 2016 have been collected from watermelon producers . A stochastic frontier production function model is used to analyze the technical efficiency of the farmers growing watermelon . Results obtained by fitting the model reveal that mean technical efficiency level is 86% indicating a scope for increasing average efficiency by 14% . Natural calamity is the highest source of risk in watermelon production . The output elasticity corresponding to the significant (p<0 . 05) coefficients of the inputs viz . , human labour , amount of fertilizer used , irrigation cost and pesticide cost are 0 . 04 , 2 . 99 , 22 . 74 and 19 . 25 , respectively . Technical inefficiency of the watermelon producer is reduced significantly (p<0 . 05) as the farm size increases . Access to both training and microcredit exert a significant (p<0 . 01) reduction in technical inefficiency of the farmers who produce watermelon . So , government and non - government organizations may take initiatives to improve watermelon productivity by providing training , and micro credit facility with low rate of interest to the farmers .