Technical efficiency of traditional agriculture based on local knowledge of smallholder farmers

Increasing productivity is a challenge for small farmers in managing their farms. The objectives of this study were to analyze the technical efficiency of potato farming using local knowledge of traditional agriculture and to analyze the variables that contribute to the technical inefficiency of potato farming in the Arfak Mountains. This study was conducted in three districts of the Arfak Mountains Regency of West Papua Province: Anggi, Sururey, and Hingk. This study used cross-sectional data obtained from structured interviews with 140 farmers. The determinants and efficiency levels were estimated using stochastic frontier analysis. The findings of this study indicate that farmers who implement traditional farming systems with local knowledge have an average technical efficiency of 52%, equivalent to the average technical efficiency value of potatoes in other developing countries without local knowledge of 40–70 percent. The variables of extension frequency, total household income, degree of output commercialization, distance between the farmer’s house and the farm location, and fallow length are the determining factors for farmers' technical efficiency. The implication is that traditional farmers can improve their technical efficiency through technological improvements, the use of appropriate inputs, infrastructure improvements, intensive counseling, and assistance in correctly managing their farms.提升生产效率是小型农户开展农场经营时面临的核心挑战。本研究旨在依托传统农业本土知识，分析阿尔法克山脉地区马铃薯种植的技术效率（technical efficiency），并探究该区域马铃薯种植技术无效率的影响变量。本研究以西巴布亚省阿尔法克山县下辖的安吉（Anggi）、苏鲁雷（Sururey）与辛克（Hingk）三个区县为调研区域，通过对140名农户开展结构化访谈获取横断面数据（cross-sectional data）。研究采用随机前沿分析（stochastic frontier analysis）对农户的效率水平与影响因素进行估算。结果表明，依托本土传统种植体系开展生产的农户，其马铃薯种植的平均技术效率为52%，该水平与其他未采用本土知识的发展中国家马铃薯种植平均技术效率区间（40%~70%）基本持平。农技推广频次、家庭总收入、农产品商业化程度、农户住所与种植地块的距离以及休耕时长，是影响农户技术效率的核心决定因素。本研究的实践启示为：传统种植农户可通过技术改良、合理投入品使用、基础设施升级、精细化农技指导以及规范化农场经营帮扶，提升自身技术效率水平。