Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture No. 1/07
Consistent evidence on the efficiency of maize production in southwest Ethiopia
Johannes Sauer
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Tsegaye Yilma
University of Hohenheim, Germany
Abstract
This paper investigates the technical efficiency of maize farmers in
the Jimma Zone of Ethiopia. This is done by estimating various translog
production frontiers and testing a posteriori for theoretical
consistency of the obtained efficiency scores. Only consistent measures
are discussed with respect to possible policy implications. A high
variance in technical efficiency over the sample was observed. With
respect to the enhancement of the farms’ performance in the short-run
the improvement of the managerial skills of the farmers as well as the
fostering of agricultural extension programs were found to be most
relevant.
Keywords: maize production, Ethiopia, frontier analysis, consistency
JEL: Q 12, O 12, C 51
Vol. 46 (2007), No. 1: 23-48