Estimating technical efficiency of waterleaf production in a tropical region

Abstract

Information on economics of production of minor vegetables is largely limited. This is the case for waterleaf [Talinum triangulare (Jacq). Wild]. Farm-level, output-oriented technical efficiency indices were estimated by fitting stochastic production frontier functions to survey data collected from waterleaf producers. By use of the Maximum Likelihood analysis, asymptotic parameter estimates were evaluated to describe efficiency determinants. The most critical production factors were labor, irrigation, and use of organic manure. The mean efficiency term, 0.65, indicates that waterleaf output could be increased with available technology. Some socioeconomic factors were evaluated to determine their influences on the ability of producers to be efficient in input use. Waterleaf production may be able to contribute to income derived from vegetable production in tropical environments. © 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.