Cultivating Efficiency: An In-depth Analysis of Technical Efficiency in Kerala's Organic Vegetable Farming

The transition to organic farming in Kerala, motivated by environmental and health concerns associated with chemical-intensive agriculture, encounters challenges related to productivity and resource efficiency during the conversion phase. Despite policy initiatives, the technical efficiency of organic vegetable farming remains insufficiently explored, impeding evidencebased interventions. This study examines the technical efficiency of organic vegetable farmers in northern Kerala and identifies determinants to inform strategies for enhancing sustainability and profitability.

Primary data from 361 certified organic vegetable farmers were analyzed using a stochastic production frontier model with a truncated normal distribution. The Cobb-Douglas production function evaluated inputs (land, labor, capital, organic manure) and socio-economic factors (age, education, experience). Technical inefficiency effects were modeled via a one-step maximum likelihood approach.

Farmers operated at an average technical efficiency of 21.4%, indicating significant underutilization of resources. Key determinants included experience (reducing inefficiency) and age (increasing inefficiency). Organic manure and land size positively impacted output, while education improved efficiency among full-time farmers. Over 75% of farmers required more than a 70% improvement to achieve full efficiency. The findings underscore the necessity for targeted training, enhanced access to organic inputs and institutional support to optimize resource use and sustain Kerala's organic transition.