Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 M. Sc Student of Agricultural Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran, Tehran;
2 Member of Agricultural Economics Department, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran, Tehran;
3 Student of Agricultural Economics, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran, Kerman
Abstract
Occurrence of frequent droughts along with the current global energy crisis calls for attention to efficient use of water resources and improvement of water productivity level. Also, when other production inputs are used, the relationship and interaction between those inputs and water play important roles and should be considered in research. In this study, water use efficiency is investigated from an economic perspective. Hence, in order to assess wheat technical efficiency and water use efficiency, data envelopment analysis was used. To this end, information of 150 wheat beneficiaries in Zarghan, Fars province, was used in 2010-2011 crop season. The results showed that the mean water use efficiency in the region was very low and about 32 percent. Also, according to the results of T-test used to compare the water use efficiency among input-efficient and input-inefficient group, it was revealed that the mean water use efficiency in efficient producers was significantly more than inefficient farmers. Finally, policy recommendations for increasing water use efficiency in producing wheat in the region and improving technical efficiency is presented.
Keywords
- Amidi, 1999. Theory of Sampling and its Usage. Centeral of Emmision Varsity. First Copy. 86-89. (In Farsi)
- Chaves, M. M., Maroco, J. and Pereira, J. 2003.Understanding Plant Responses to Drought-from Genes to the Whole Plant. Function. Plant Biol, 30: 239–264.
- Dehghani Sanich, H. and Zarei, Gh. Heydari, N. 2007. Evaluation of irrigation management and water use efficiency in glasshouses and problems and challenges. First technical workshop on water use efficiency upgrade by glasshouse yield cultivation. Karaj, Iran. (In Farsi)
- Dhehibi, B., Lachaal, L. and Elloumi, M. 2007.Measuring irrigation water use efficiency using stochastic production frontier: an application on citrus producing farms in Tunisia. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics.1: 1-15.
- Fare, R., S. Grosskopf and C.A.K. Lovell. 1994. Production frontiers. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge university press. Cambridge, England.
- Fraser I, Cordina D. 1999. An application of data envelopment analysis to irrigated dairy farms in NorthernVictoria. Australian Agricultural Systems. 59: 267-282.
- Frija, A., Chebil, A., Speelman, S., Buysse, J. and Van Huylenbroeck, G. 2009.Water use and technical efficiencies in horticultural green houses in Tunisia.AGWAT, 2808. 1- 8.
- Ghiasvand, A. 2008.Statistical package for the social sciences. Motefakeran. Tehran, Iran. (In Farsi)
- Haghayeghi Moghadam, S. and Tohidlo, Gh. and Sadr Ghayen, S. 2004. Evaluation of water use efficiency and yield of sugar beet in surface and sprinkler irrigations methods. 11th conference of iranian national committee on irrigation and drainage. Tehran, Iran. (In Farsi)
- Heydari, N. and Ghadami Firuzabadi, A. and Kanoni, A. andAsadi, M. and Khaje Abodollahi, M. 2006. Water use efficiency of major crop yield in different regions of Iran.National conference on irrigation and drainage network management. Chamran ahvaz university, Ahvaz, Iran. (In Farsi)
- Imami Meybodi , a. Efficiency and productivity measurement. Institute for trade studies and research. Tehran. (In Farsi)
- Keramatzadeh, A. and Chizari, A. and Mirzaee, A. Determination of water economic value using optimum cultivation model cropping combined horticulture. Agricultural Economics and Development, 54: 35-60. (In Farsi)
- Ma, X, H and Fang, S, H. 2006.Water resources and agricultural production in China.Chinese Rural Economy. 10, 4-11, 19.
- Sabouhi, M. Khanjari, S. and Keykha, A. 2010. Evaluation of water use efficiency in Sistan’s glasshouses. Agricultural Economics, 4(3): 91-102. (In Farsi)
- Shan, L. 1991.Physiological and Ecological Base of Water saving Agriculture. Journal of Applied Ecology. 1: 70–76.
- Wang, Xue-yuan. 2010. Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Farmers and Its Determinants: Evidence from a Survey in Northwestern China. Agricultural Sciences in China. 9(9):.1326-1337.
- Ximing, Cai ., Yi-chen, E., Claudia, R., Zhao, J. and You, L. 2011.Agricultural water productivity assessment for the Yellow River Basin. Agricultural Water Management. 98: 1297-130.
- Zhenzhu Xu, Guangsheng Zho. 2008. Responses of Leaf Stomatal Density to Water Status and Its Relationship with Photosynthesis in a Grass. Journal of Experimental Botany
)