A Study on the Spatial-temporal Evolution Pattern of Agricultural Production Efficiency in the Northwestern Sichuan Plateau

摘要

Using DEA and Malmquist Index,an indepth study was conducted on agricultural production efficiency of 31 counties in the northwestern Sichuan plateau and changes in total factor productivity.The spatial-temporal evolution pattern of agricultural production efficiency and changes in total factor productivity was described for eleven years from 2000 to 2010.The research results indicate that: (1) the average agricultural production efficiency in 2000 and 2010 is 0.770 and 0.80,respectively.Geographically,the counties with optimal efficiency are mainly located in the north of northwestern Sichuan plateau,those with the lowest efficiency in the south of this plateau; (2) relative to pure technical efficiency,scale efficiency is the dominant factor determining the agricultural production efficiency; (3) the redundancy rate of input factors in 2010 is slightly lower than 2000,indicating an improved utilization level of input factors to a certain extent and a great potential in the improvement of efficient utilization; (4) during the period from 2000 to 2010,the agricultural total factor productivity had an average annual growth rate of 8.3％,but there was a significant difference in the growth rate among various regions; (5) technical progress is the dominant factor promoting the improvement of agricultural total factor productivity,showing a stronger influence.The findings are expected to provide a scientific basis for the government to develop sustainable development policies for agriculture and improve agricultural development in the northwestern Sichuan plateau.