Universal Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 11(6), pp. 1164 - 1172
DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2023.110624
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Determinants of Technical Efficiency and Production Costs in Small-Scale Apple Farms in Albania

Aldona Minga ^*, Dorjan Marku
Department of Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Fan S. Noli University, Albania

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research is to identify the factors that influence the technical efficiency of total production costs in apple farms, addressing some of the complexities posed by small-scale farming, within the regional and national context. The data of the study were collected from 150 randomly selected apple farms in Korca district, one of the major apples growing regions in Albania. The methodology approach consists of an econometric modelling of the factors that affect farm efficiency, capitalizing on the utility of the Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA), as a tool for gauging the spectrum of technical efficiency levels exhibited by apple farms. The findings reveal the substantial impact exerted by various factors such as farm size, irrigation, the deployment of capital stock, and the quantity of pesticides and fertilizers upon the technical efficiency of the total production costs. Farmers involved in apple production can improve the efficiency level by improving the irrigation techniques, and optimizing the quantity of fertilizers and capital stock. Also, apple producers in Albania may overcome yield instabilities by extending the area planted with apples.

KEYWORDS
Agricultural Farms, Total Costs, Technical Efficiency, Econometric Modeling

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Aldona Minga , Dorjan Marku , "Determinants of Technical Efficiency and Production Costs in Small-Scale Apple Farms in Albania," Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 11, No. 6, pp. 1164 - 1172, 2023. DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2023.110624.

(b). APA Format:
Aldona Minga , Dorjan Marku (2023). Determinants of Technical Efficiency and Production Costs in Small-Scale Apple Farms in Albania. Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, 11(6), 1164 - 1172. DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2023.110624.