Analysis of the technical efficiency of Banana in greenhouses using a stochastic frontier production function model in the Syrian coastal region

Abstract

The research aimed to measure the technical efficiency of banana production in the coastal region during the 2024-2025 growing season, using preliminary data from a random sample of 90 banana farmers distributed between the Tartous and Lattakia governorates. The research employed a descriptive-analytical approach, focusing on the stochastic frontier productivity function using the Frontier software. The results showed that the elasticity of banana plantation area was the highest, estimated at approximately 0.375, followed by the elasticity of organic fertilizer, irrigation water, and pesticides used. No significant effect was found for the quantity of human or mechanical labor. Regarding technical efficiency, it varied among farmers based on location, reaching 82.9% in Tartous compared to 78.2% in Lattakia. Efficiency also differed among the cultivated varieties, reaching 84.4% for the Grand Nan variety, 82.9% for the Elite variety, and 77.7% for the other varieties. Overall, the average technical efficiency in the study sample was 82.4%, indicating a gap of 17.6% from the frontier production limits. This gap can be addressed by using optimal quantities of production inputs, focusing on fertilizers, pesticides, and variety selection.