Technical efficiency of garlic production in Fang district, Chiang Mai province

Abstract

Although Fang district is major garlic producing area in Chiang Mai province, its average growth rate of yield is the lowest compared to other districts in the same province. During 2007 – 2015, the average yield increased by only 1.96 percent, hitting a record low of 3,570 kilograms per rai in 2015. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of garlic farmers in Fang district. This research applied the StoNED model to analyze garlic production data in the 2015/2016 crop year from a sample of 100 garlic growers, as well as the Tobit model to study factors affecting the technical efficiency of garlic production. The findings show that the average efficiency level was 0.60 or 60 percent, and 55 percent of the sample group achieved high technical efficiency score (0.6 – 0.8). Factors that positively affected technical efficiency of garlic production were found to include education of household head (Edu) and area type (P < 0.05), as well as water source (P < 0.01). Variables which showed negative correlation were farmers’ agricultural experience (Exp) and plantation area (Area). The results of the analysis highlight the importance of education for farmers, the optimal use of land for planting, and the availability of alternative water sources for agriculture in the future.