Metafrontier analysis of technology gap of Saffron farms

In this study technological gap ratio of different sizes of saffron farms were analyzed using the concept of metafrontier function that estimated with data envelopment analysis. For this purpose, information of 81 farmers that were interviewed with simple random sampling in 2014 was used. Samples collected from saffron farmers were divided into three sizes; small, medium and large.The results of estimating group technical efficiency showed that mean technical efficiency for selected provinces varies between 0.86 and 0.90. This implies that, there are possibilities for either increasing total production of saffron using the same inputs or decreasing input for the current level of saffron production or a mixture of both by filling the gap between the best producer and other producers. The result of technological gap showed that large farms had a better technical performance and in comparison with small and medium farms the large farms had a higher technological gap ratio. In addition the age of farmer, ownership, number of years of experience in saffron farming were positively and significantly associated with technical efficiency of saffron production in the study area. Farmers having production problem in saffron production would have statistically lower level of technical efficiency as compared to those did not have production problem. This study suggested that training programs to accelerate farmer experience and immediate farmer's problem-solving program as measures to increase technical efficiency in saffron production.