Evaluation of the efficiency of sugar beet production in Qazvin plain, Iran

Abstract

Sugar beet as an industrial crop plays a main role in satisfying domestic demand of sugar. Study on the production efficiency of sugar beet is important because this is a factor that influences production without additional cost. In this study, Data Envelopment Analysis approach (DEA), was implemented to calculate technical, administrative and scale efficiency of sugar beet production. Also optimum level of inputs was determined. Data was collected from 60 questionnaires filled by sugar beet producers in 2009-2010. Results indicated that average of technical, administrative and scale efficiency is equal to 89.6%, 70.5% and 79%, respectively. Also, fertilizer, labor and seed were used more than optimum level whereas herbicide and water were implemented less than optimum level.

Keywords

• data envelopment analysis
• sugar beet
• technical efficiency
• qazvin
• administrative efficiency
• scale