Evaluation of technical efficiency and its determinants for potato producers in Bojnord

During the recent years potato has been considered as a dominant crop in Bojnord. Importance of yield enhancement and proper utilization of inputs in potato production, necessiats policy making based on production efficiencies which was the aim of this research. Data was collected from 45 potato producers in 1998 growing season using simple random sampling method and technical efficiency was determined based on frontier production function and corrected least square method. Results showed that mean technical efficiency of potato producers was 65.6% and around 25% of farmers were using animal manure higher than optimal level. Technical efficiency was directly correlated with cultivated area but inverse relationship was obtained between technical efficiency and educational level of potato producers.