Crop production efficiency in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract Agriculture is essential to Ethiopia’s economy, primarily driven by smallholder farmers. However, challenges such as declining GDP contributions, rising food demand, and environmental issues necessitate improved crop production efficiency. This study examines the technical, allocative, and...

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Main Authors: Tegegn Nigussie Degfachew, Melkamu Mada Dilnesaw, Malebo Mancha Massa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-08-01
Series:Discover Food
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00529-w
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author Tegegn Nigussie Degfachew
Melkamu Mada Dilnesaw
Malebo Mancha Massa
author_facet Tegegn Nigussie Degfachew
Melkamu Mada Dilnesaw
Malebo Mancha Massa
author_sort Tegegn Nigussie Degfachew
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Agriculture is essential to Ethiopia’s economy, primarily driven by smallholder farmers. However, challenges such as declining GDP contributions, rising food demand, and environmental issues necessitate improved crop production efficiency. This study examines the technical, allocative, and economic efficiencies of farmers in eastern Amhara, using data from 384 households. The analysis employed descriptive and econometric methods, revealing that all input variables, except for oxen, significantly and positively influenced production. Based on the stochastic frontier model, the mean technical efficiency was 62.48%, while allocative efficiency averaged 86.47% and economic efficiency was 54.11%. The Tobit model results indicated that technical efficiency was significantly affected by factors such as the age of the household head, access to social networks, cultivated land area, irrigation involvement, agricultural experience, and alternative revenue sources. Economic efficiency was influenced by the number of oxen, age of the household head, access to social networks, agricultural experience, irrigation use, extension services, and alternative income sources. Additionally, cultivated land size and agricultural experience were significant determinants of allocative efficiency. The findings suggest that adopting new technologies and improving land management practices could enhance productivity and living standards for smallholder farmers, emphasizing the need for support from development organizations and government initiatives.
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spelling doaj-art-61e276ec12ec40808faf2d3cedb04b452025-08-20T03:05:13ZengSpringerDiscover Food2731-42862025-08-015112410.1007/s44187-025-00529-wCrop production efficiency in Eastern Amhara, EthiopiaTegegn Nigussie Degfachew0Melkamu Mada Dilnesaw1Malebo Mancha Massa2Department of Economics, Arba Minch UniversityDepartment of Economics, Arba Minch UniversityDepartment of Economics, Arba Minch UniversityAbstract Agriculture is essential to Ethiopia’s economy, primarily driven by smallholder farmers. However, challenges such as declining GDP contributions, rising food demand, and environmental issues necessitate improved crop production efficiency. This study examines the technical, allocative, and economic efficiencies of farmers in eastern Amhara, using data from 384 households. The analysis employed descriptive and econometric methods, revealing that all input variables, except for oxen, significantly and positively influenced production. Based on the stochastic frontier model, the mean technical efficiency was 62.48%, while allocative efficiency averaged 86.47% and economic efficiency was 54.11%. The Tobit model results indicated that technical efficiency was significantly affected by factors such as the age of the household head, access to social networks, cultivated land area, irrigation involvement, agricultural experience, and alternative revenue sources. Economic efficiency was influenced by the number of oxen, age of the household head, access to social networks, agricultural experience, irrigation use, extension services, and alternative income sources. Additionally, cultivated land size and agricultural experience were significant determinants of allocative efficiency. The findings suggest that adopting new technologies and improving land management practices could enhance productivity and living standards for smallholder farmers, emphasizing the need for support from development organizations and government initiatives.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00529-wCropProduction efficiencyStochastic frontierTobit modelAmhara regionEthiopia
spellingShingle Tegegn Nigussie Degfachew
Melkamu Mada Dilnesaw
Malebo Mancha Massa
Crop production efficiency in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia
Discover Food
Crop
Production efficiency
Stochastic frontier
Tobit model
Amhara region
Ethiopia
title Crop production efficiency in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia
title_full Crop production efficiency in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia
title_fullStr Crop production efficiency in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Crop production efficiency in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia
title_short Crop production efficiency in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia
title_sort crop production efficiency in eastern amhara ethiopia
topic Crop
Production efficiency
Stochastic frontier
Tobit model
Amhara region
Ethiopia
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00529-w
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AT melkamumadadilnesaw cropproductionefficiencyineasternamharaethiopia
AT malebomanchamassa cropproductionefficiencyineasternamharaethiopia