An analysis of technical efficiency of mixed intercropping agroforestry technology: A case of Zomba district in Malawi

Abstract: 
The study was conducted in Zomba district in Malawi, in 2005/ 2006 cropping season with the main objective of assessing technical efficiency (TE) of mixed intercropping (MI) agroforestry technology. Study population consisted of 101 farmers practicing MI and 104 non-adopters (NA) of agroforestry. Stochastic Frontier Production Model (SFPM) of parametric approach specified by Battese and Coelli (1995) was applied to evaluate the TE. Mean TE of MI and NA were 0.62 and 0.46, respectively. Results showed that both categories of farmers have technical inefficiencies.
L’étude a été menée dans le district de Zomba au Malawi, pendant la période de moisson de 2005-2006 avec l’objectif principal d’évaluer l’efficacité technique (ET) de la technologie mixte (TM) de l’agroforesterie. La population d’étude était composée de 101 agriculteurs pratiquant (AP) l‘agroforesterie mixte et de 104 non-pratiquants (NP). Le modèle de l’approche paramétrique, appelé ”Stochastic Frontier Production Model” (SFPM) et élaboré par Battese et Coelli (1995), a été appliqué pour évaluer l’ ET. Les ET moyennes de AP et de NP étaient, respectivement 0.62 et 0.46. Les résultats ont prouvé que les deux catégories des agriculteurs ont des inefficacités techniques.
Language: 
English
Date of publication: 
2010
Country: 
Region Focus: 
Southern Africa
University/affiliation: 
Collection: 
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Access restriction: 
Form: 
Printed resource
Publisher: 
ISSN: 
E_ISSN: 
Edition: 
Extent: 
1543-1546
Notes: 
 
"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme socio-economics".