Full Length Research Paper

Determination of technical efficiency in cotton growing farms in Turkey: A case study of Cukurova region

Mevlut Gul¹*, Besir Koc², Erdal Dagistan³, M. Goksel Akpinar⁴ and Oğuz Parlakay⁵

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.

²Bingol University, Faculty of Agriculture, Bingol, Turkey.

³Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.

⁴Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.

⁵Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: mgul@ziraat.sdu.edu.tr.  Tel: +90(246)2114644. Fax: +90(246)2371695.

Accepted 31 August, 2009

   Abstract

This paper analyses technical efficiency of cotton farms in Çukurova region in Turkey. Data was collected from cotton farms through a questionnaire study. Data collection was carried out following 2004-2005 growing seasons. Technical efficiency of cotton farms was estimated by using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and technical efficiency scores were calculated employing an input oriented DEA. Tobit regression analysis was used to identify determinants of technical efficiency. Results indicate that cotton farmers can save inputs by at least 20% while remaining at the same production level. Factors strongly affecting efficiency level of the farmers were found to be farmers’ age, education level and groups of cotton growing areas.

Key words: Efficiency, data envelopment analysis, cotton, Turkey.