Estimation of economic efficiency of sorghum and sesame crops production in Habiella agricultural scheme in south Kordofan state

Abstract EN

The study was carried out in Habiella Agricultural Scheme.

The main purposes of the study were to measure economic efficiency of producing sorghum and sesame crops, to determine the main factors affecting economic inefficiency (Technical and Allocative), and to assess the maximum farmer's income level under optimum cropping pattern.

The study mainly depended on primary data which was collected from a field survey conducted at Habiella Agricultural Scheme in season 2019/2020, by direct interviewing of farmers through a multi-stage stratified random sampling technique of about (191 farmers) using a structured questionnaire.

Secondary data were collected from relevant institutional sources.

Descriptive Statistics, Stochastic Frontier Model, Budget, and Linear Programming were used to analyze the collected data.

The results of descriptive statistics showed that; most farmers were males with a percent of 99.5%, and their active age group (45-60) age, the average family households members was (8) persons, with average of (2) members working in the farm.

About 80.1% of the farmers have attained some sort of education; the average of the experience was 16 years.

Stochastic frontier production function analysis revealed that the mean technical efficiency of sorghum and sesame were 99%, 54%, respectively.

The mean economic efficiency of sorghum and sesame were 43%, 6%, respectively.

Labors, area cultivated, seeds, and gasolines were significant variables for improving technical efficiency.

Education, experience, and finance were significant in explaining technical inefficiency.

The results of the linear programming showed that; the optimal land allocated to sorghum and sesame were 0.75, 1.25 feddans, respectively.

The optimal returns were (7623 SDG) and the actual returns were (7190 SDG), the basic solution for the total costs plan increased from 5254 SDG to 5324 SDG, this increment was only 1.33%, comparing the optimal 2300 SDG and the actual 1936 SDG, net returns, the former outstripped the later by 18.80%.

The budget analysis showed that the net returns were 230 SDG, 1704 SDG for sorghum and sesame, respectively.

The study recommended that: intensive extension programs to improve the economic efficiency (Technical and Allocative) of farmers, solving problems and obstacles that affect production of the two crops (sufficient financing at suitable time, efficient agricultural machineries, integrated pest management and improved seeds), adoption of using technical packages and full modern technologies recommended by Agricultural Research Centers.