Evaluation of water consumption technical efficiency in Iran's agriculture sub-sector using Stochastic Nonparametric Envelopment of Data (StoNED)

One of the most important economic tools in promoting the agricultural sector is the optimal use of inputs, especially water inputs. Water scarcity and the high costs of providing it have made increasing the efficiency and value of water consumption one of the most important national goals. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the water use efficiency in the country's agriculture sub-sector. For this purpose, the non-parametric stochastic data model (StoNED) has been used. The research data include gross crop production, water consumption, labor and intermediate inputs in the agricultural sub-sector of 30 provinces of the country during the years 2005-2015, which has been collected from the website of the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture. Based on the results, the average efficiency of total production inputs in the agricultural sub-sector was equal to 93.36 percent and the average efficiency of irrigation water during the period under study in this sub-sector was equal to 83.02 percent (periodic average). Irrigation water efficiency in all years under study was less than the efficiency of total production inputs. Therefore, due to the low efficiency of water input consumption compared to other used inputs, it is suggested that extension courses be held to inform farmers in the field of correct and optimal use of water input. Also, the results of this study have shown that the average water efficiency of the provinces in the agricultural sub-sector has been equal to 83.14 percent (cross-sectional average) that the provinces of Gilan and Qom have the highest (87.76 percent) and the lowest (81.85 percent), respectively. Therefore, in order to improve water use efficiency, it is suggested that in the cultivation planning of provinces with low water efficiency, including Qom, Ilam, South Khorasan, Ardabil, Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Bushehr, Kurdistan, Semnan and North Khorasan, Take actions such as Improving the irrigation system of crops and modifying the cultivation pattern towards cultivating low-water crops and optimizing it.