Input productivity in Eghlid region sugar beet farms

The main objective of this study was to determine the economical level of inputs applied in production of sugar beet by Eglid region farmers. Therefore data set was obtained From 55 farmers through interview and completing questionnaire. The farmers were selected based on a two-stage random sampling method. Marginal productivity of inputs was studied using Cobb – Douglas and Transendental production functions. Transcendental production function was also used to determine the relative cost share of inputs. Based on findings, labor, machinery and seed are used more than their optimum levels, while chemical fertilizer was used less than its optimal amount. Selected farms are expected to get maximum profit by using reduced amount of labor, machinery and seed and increased amount of chemical fertilizer. The results showed that about 67.2 percent of farmers were in non-economic region of production. 85.5 percent of farmers have also been in the second stage of production in fertilizer consumption. Seed and machinery have been used higher than their optimal amounts by 100 and 58.2 percent of the farmers respectively. 56.4 percent of the farmers were in second stage (economic) of production in using pesticides. High coefficient of determination of 0.88, indicated that 88 percent of changes of dependent variable can be explained by independent variables. The results also indicated that the highest share of cost was related to labor and machinery and the profit will rise if their use is reduced.