Investigating the Rice Energy Efficiency Using Interval Fuzzy Data Envelopment Analysis Model (Case Study: Rice Farmers in Golestan Province)

In this study, the rice energy efficiency in Golestan was investigated using interval fuzzy (triangular) data envelopment analysis model at different alpha levels in the year 2016-2017. The data required were collected using interviews and completing questionnaire from 286 rice farmers in Golestan province who were selected using simple random sampling. The results showed that at the level of α= 0.25 could be reduce the amount of input energy to 37.99% in upper bound and 1.83 in lower bound without any effect on the output energy (yield). Also, the results showed that at the level α =1 (certainty conditions) two inputs, irrigation water and chemical fertilizer with 33% and 31.2% respectively, and among the types of input energies, non-renewable energies (energy of machinery, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and fossil fuels) with 60% (24117.7 MJ / ha) had the largest share in the production of this product. The use of new technologies in the use of water input such as installing smart meters on various pumps, reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizer by promoting the use of organic fertilizers and proper training in the use of inorganic fertilizers helps a lot to reduce energy consumption in these high-consumption inputs.