Analyzing Factors Influencing Technical Efficiency in Wheat Farms: Evidence from Heris County, East Azerbaijan

Kosar Gholipour¹ Ghader Dashti² Haniyeh Firuzy³ Esmaeil Pishbahar⁴

1) Ph.D. student in Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Email:
2) Professor of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Email:
3) M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Email:
4) Professor of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Email:

IOI Code : ABFF-ABDFED
Publication : 9th International Congress of Developing Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism of Iran(9icsda.ir)
Abstract :
    Efficiency in wheat production as a strategic product has always been a focal point for governments. Achieving this goal depends on optimizing farm management, including the efficient use of available resources and improving the technical efficiency of production units. The present study aims to calculate the technical efficiency of wheat farms and the factors influencing it in Heris county, Iran. The necessary data for the study was collected from 131 farmers. The results obtained from the estimating of the Cobb-Douglas production function showed that seed, fertilizer, and pesticide positively and significantly contribute to wheat production, whereas cultivated area and labor have negative effects, reflecting diminishing returns or inefficiencies. The mean technical efficiency of wheat farmers was estimated at approximately 90%, with values ranging from 65% to 97%, suggesting the potential to increase output by about 10% through efficiency improvements alone. The inefficiency function showed that education and age reduce technical inefficiency, while having another job, larger family size, and cultivating additional crops increase inefficiency. These findings highlight the importance of education, full-time engagement in wheat farming, and crop specialization in improving efficiency. Overall, enhancing technical efficiency offers a practical strategy to increase wheat production in Heris County without additional input use, thereby contributing to regional and national food security.

Keywords : cobb douglas heris production function stochastic frontier approach technical efficiency