TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF PEANUT GROWING FARMS IN TURKEY

This paper analyses technical efficiency of peanut growing farms in Turkey. Data were collected from farms through a questionnaire study carried out following 2000–2001 growing season. Analysis was accomplished in two steps. In the first step, technical effi- ciency scores were calculated employing an input oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). In the second step, Tobit regression analysis was used to identify determinants of technical efficiency. Results indicate that peanut farmers can save inputs by at least 8% while remaining at the same production level. Factors strongly affecting efficiency level of the farmers were found to be farmer age, peanut specific farming experience, farm location, overall farm size.