Application of data envelopment analysis to evaluate the efficiency of saffron growers (Case study: Qaen county)

Agricultural sector to meet the requests such as a higher yield، less pollution and fulfill consumer demands due to increasing scarcity of resources is under pressure. According to the importance of efficiency in productivity growth، this index can play an important rule، especially in developing countries، for the development of agricultural systems in order to meet these requests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical، economic and allocative efficiency of producers of saffron for Qaen region using data envelopment analysis. Information and data is collected through completion 50 questionnaires in year 2011-2012. Results show that average technical efficiency، allocative and economic in condition of constant return to scale are 0. 86، 0. 92، and 0. 88 and in condition of variable return scale are 0. 89، 0. 92، and 0. 80، respectively. Also، according to the results obtained، educating and advising farmers to the proper use of available resources، and promotion، and the use of appropriate technologies such as improved efficiency is recommended.