Title: Technical and economic analysis of farms cultivating cereals and legumes: a Greek case study

Authors: Angelos Prentzas; Stefanos A. Nastis; Christina Moulogianni; Asimina Kouriati

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece ' Department of Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece ' Department of Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece ' Department of Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract: This paper attempts to estimate the technical efficiency of cereal and legume farms to draw conclusions regarding the rational use of production factors. Data envelopment analysis was implemented on 100 agricultural holdings which are located in the prefecture of Kilkis (Central Macedonia-Greece). Primary data were collected using a questionnaire survey. The gross profit of every farm was used as the output. Acreage, labour, as well as variable costs such as crop protection costs, fertilisers and fuels were used as inputs. The results showed that the reduction of inputs by 48.3% is necessary for the farms' efficiency improvement. Also, the three farms seem to be overall technically efficient. A present study's significant finding is that many cereal and legume farmers do not use their resources efficiently and rationally. Lastly, the framework that this paper creates shows how production factors must be considered in order for the farm decision-making improvement to be achieved.

Keywords: cereals; legumes; technical efficiency; data envelopment analysis; DEA; agriculture; farm management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSAMI.2022.126804

International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Management and Informatics, 2022 Vol.8 No.4, pp.446 - 459

Received: 26 Jul 2022
Accepted: 04 Aug 2022

Published online: 07 Nov 2022 *

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