Analyzing the Technical Efficiency of Cotton Production in the Gezira Scheme, Sudan

Aims: This study aimed at measuring and evaluating production efficiency of the tenants producing cotton-crop in Gezira Scheme, and investigating the main specific factors behind their technical inefficiency.

Place and Duration of Study: Gezira Scheme, season 2011/12.

Methodology: The study depended on both primary and secondary data. Stratified random sampling technique was used to collect data from 150 farmers by means of questionnaire. Stochastic frontier production function model was used to attain the stated objectives.

Results: Results revealed the presence of a relatively high potential for cotton-farmer to improve their yield by up to 11%. It is also revealed that, there were strong and substantially significant effect of cotton cultivated area (-0.02, p<0.10), seed rate (0.24, p<0.01), fertilizers (0.58, p<0.01), irrigation numbers (0.27, p<0.01), total labour man-day hours (0.09, p<0.05) on cotton production levels. On the other hand, tenancy location (-0.01, p<0.10), sowing date (-0.13, p<0.05) weeding (-0.11, p<0.05), family size (-0.04, p<0.10) and credit (-0.20, p<0.01) were highly significant in explaining the variation behind the tenants’ technical inefficiency.

Conclusion: The study stresses on the importance of improving technical efficiency for cotton production in the Gezira Scheme, through improving tenants’ access to credit and extension services. It is also stresses on the importance of agricultural research on solving weeds and irrigation problems.