Efficiency analysis of sugar beet farms in Turkey: case of Kahramanmaras

摘要

The purpose of the study is to measure the technical efficiency of sugar beet farms and to identify the relationship between social and environmental factors with technical efficiency in sugar beet production. Data were obtained from 95 sugar beet farms in the Afsin district of Kahramanmaras of Turkey in 2018. Data Envelopment Analysis and Tobit regression were used in the analyzes. The efficiency scores of the sugar beet farms were 0.86 (CRS) and 0.91 (VRS). This result shows that farmers can reduce their inputs by 14 and 9 to achieve the same level of output. Further, higher education, sugar beet area located far from the thermal power plant, using certified hybrid seed, and benefiting from Environment-Friendly Agricultural Land Protection (EFALP) subsidy increase the technical efficiency of the sugar beet farms. Policymakers should provide better extension services for strengthening farmers' knowledge and administrative skills for the improvement of technical efficiency. Besides, increasing the amount of environmental subsidies and monitoring the steps taken by thermal power plants to reduce environmental pollution will play a crucial role to improve sugar beet farms' efficiency and sustainability.