Analysis of the technical efficiency of barley production in North Shewa Zone of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia

Abstract

Inefficiency in barley production is among the challenges to agricultural transformation in Ethiopia. North Shewa zone of Amhara regional state is not exception in this regard. As such addressing inefficiency is among the crucial efforts for agricultural transformation. The objective of the current study was to analyze the technical efficiency of barley production in north Shewa zone of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. For this purpose 385 farm households were randomly selected from four purposively selected districts in the zone. The one-step maximum likelihood estimation result of the Cobb-Douglas production function result reveals that seed application, DAP fertilizer application, UREA fertilizer application, land under barley production, labor and oxen ownership have a positive and significant effect on barley production. The predicted average technical efficiency score is found to be 85.06 percent implying that given existing input mix and technology it is possible to increase the production of barley on average by 14.94%. The study found that education, non/off farm income, access to market information, access to extension service and tropical livestock unit are found to have a positive and significant effect on the technical efficiency of barley production while distance from the market and marital status (divorced) have a negative significant effect on technical efficiency of barley production. The result suggests that the government should encourage farmers vocational trainings and participation in off/non-farm activities, improve access to market information, access to extension services, livestock ownership and access to market to improve barley production efficiency.

Keywords:

• Ethiopia
• North Shewa zone
• technical efficiency
• Cobb-Douglas production function
• one-step procedure

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

Agriculture is the backbone of the Ethiopian society and the national economy at large. The study analyzed the technical efficiency of Barley Production in North Shewa Zone of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, using a one-step maximum livelihood approach on a stochastic frontier model. The result revealed that education, non/off farm income, access to market information, access to extension service and tropical livestock unit have a positive and significant effect on the technical efficiency of barley production while distance from the market and marital status have a negative significant effect. Thus, stakeholders should take this into account in their effort to improve barley production.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

correction

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Debre Berhan University;

Notes on contributors

Tadesse Zenebe Lema

Tadesse Zenebe Lema is a lecturer at Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia & works as a private consultant and vice manager at Mesale Consultancy Service PLC based at Debre Berhan, Ethiopia. His research interest includes Effect, Impact & effectiveness of policies, efficiency and productivity analysis, Macroeconomics & Microeconomics.