Estimating Total Factor Productivity Model of Irrigated Wheat Production of Iran with Emphasis on the Role of Knowledge-Based Economy Policy in Food Security

Improving productivity to ensure food security is the most important goal of knowledge-based economy policy in Iran. An approach that is felt more and more in line with the challenges facing traditional approaches to production. In this regard, given the importance of wheat as one of the most important strategic products of the country, governments have always sought to improve productivity to ensure food security, through investment in R&D programs. However, success in research is essential to increase productivity. The present study tries to estimate the impact of cumulative benefits of successful breeding research on the total factor productivity of irrigated wheat of Iran during 1996-2017, by calculating the cumulative benefits of breeding research of 10 selected cultivars of Irrigated wheat. For this purpose, first, the total factor productivity index was calculated by the Trinquist-Thiel index. Then, the model of total factor productivity of irrigated wheat was estimated, using Almon Distributed lags Method. The results show that a one percent increase in the cumulative benefits of breeding research of selected irrigated wheat cultivars increases the total factor productivity by 0.19 percent. Also, a one percent increase in the extension investment of wheat varieties increases total factor productivity by 0.03 percent over six periods. Therefore, it is suggested that the improvement of educational and extension programs provide a context for farmers’ acceptance of Improved varieties by raising awareness.