Technical Efficiency in Intercropped Pineapple Production in Kurunegala District

The objective of the study was to estimate the current level of technical efficiency and to identify the factors affecting technical efficiency of intercropped pineapple production in Kurunegala district. A questionnaire based survey was carried out to collect the data from eighty pineapple growers. The data were analyzed by using the stochastic frontier production function approach. The pineapple production was determined as a function of land extent, plant density, labour, fertilizer, agrochemicals and worth of assets. The land extent, plant density, labour and fertilizer had significant effect on pineapple production in Kurunegala district. The technical inefficiency was regressed as a function of season, age, education, number of family members, land, plant density, ownership, experience, occupation, off farm income and constraint index. The technical efficiency was significantly affected by season, ownership, experience, off farm income and a constraint index. The mean technical efficiency of pineapple production was eighty five percent. The study reveals that there is a possibility, for further increase of productivity. Journal of Food and Agriculture 2010 Vol. 03, No. 1 & 2, Page 50-56 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jfa.v3i1-2.517