Measure and decompose total factor productivity growth in varieties of rice in Iran

The purpose of this study is calculate the rate of total factor productivity (TFP) growth of rice varieties for different provinces of Iran and then breakdown it to the changes in a technology، management efficiency and scale efficiency. For this purpose we use the nonparametric method of comprehensive data analysis and Malmquist productivity index. The used data include the rice varieties production and inputs used to produce them، including labor، seed، fertilizer and pesticides obtained from the reports of production cost in Agriculture Ministry. The results show that the average total factor productivity growth in all rice producing provinces has been positive. Its value for long grain rice with high-yielding varieties (3. 09%)، long grain rice with high-quality (2. 83 percent)، short grain rice varieties (2. 46 percent)، medium rice grain with high-quality varieties (2. 21%) and medium rice grain with high-quality varieties (2. 61 percent) and so total factor productivity growth since 2000-2007 was positive and its status has improved. About long grain rice with high-yielding varieties and long grain rice with high-quality varieties apart from Golestan province and for short grain rice varieties except Mazandaran province، for all of the other provinces، productivity growth is due to changes in technology and technical efficiency have not role in productivity growth. Also about The medium rice grain with high-yielding varieties and medium rice grain with high-quality varieties productivity growth for all provinces is due to technology changing. So technological changes has been the most important reason for productivity growth in rice production for recent years. In addition this study results show that by improving the technical and management efficiency of Farmers it is possible to increase the productivity then the current situation and this is Executable by extension and teaching the proper ways of using new technologies and inputs.