Determinants of Technical Efficiency of Harumanis Mango Production in Perlis, Malaysia

Abstract

The Harumanis mango (Mangifera indica L.) is renowned in Malaysia for its distinctive taste and strong market appeal. Despite the potential for exporting Harumanis mangoes to Japan, productivity in Perlis remains low. This study aims to analyse the determinants of technical efficiency in Harumanis production across two key regions in Perlis, Mata Ayer and Chuping, which are known for having the highest mango yields in Malaysia. Using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and the Cobb-Douglas production function, a dataset of 150 observations was collected from 50 mango farms over three consecutive growing seasons. The analysis examined the impact of various production inputs—such as labour, agrichemicals, plot size—and environmental factors, including temperature and rainfal on mango yield. The findings revealed significant disparities in the efficiency and effectiveness of inputs between Mata Ayer and Chuping. Labour positively influenced mango yield in both regions, although the magnitude of its effect differed. Agrichemical use showed positive correlations in Mata Ayer but insignificant or negative associations in Chuping. Temperature emerged as a critical environmental factor, particularly in Chuping, where higher temperatures were linked to reduced output. The interaction between inputs underscores the importance of tailored management strategies that consider specific local conditions and input combinations. The technical efficiency analysis revealed greater inefficiencies in Mata Ayer compared to Chuping. This study enhances the understanding of mango production dynamics and provides insights for targeted interventions to improve yield and sustainability in Harumanis mango cultivation.