Technical Efficiency of Grape Producers of Dena County in Relation to Drip Irrigation

This paper aims to estimate the technical efficiency of grape producers of central area of Dena County and to analyze the effect of drip irrigation on it. For this purpose، Cobb-Douglas production function was used for two groups of grape producers (beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of drip irrigation. The results revealed that the level of pesticide، fertilizers and machinery had significant effect on of grape production of those producers who used drip irrigation. Also، the results revealed a positive correlation between all the socio-economic factors such as age، education level، attending extension courses، household size and non-farm work with technical efficiency. The mean technical efficiency of this group of grape producers was 71 percent. Considering the production function estimation of non-beneficiaries of drip irrigation، all the inputs had significant effect on the production level. Also، the results revealed a negative effect non-farm work and positive effect of household size and extension on technical efficiency.