Author(s): SOUZA, G.; GOMES, E.; ALVES, E.

Summary: We measure performance for the Brazilian agriculture by means of free disposal hull (FDH) measures of technical efficiency. Measurements are conditional on contextual variables that may be responsible for market imperfection variables. The production frontier is generated by a product probability measure. Production observations are aggre gated by county and analyzed by region. The efficiency measure is output oriented and assumes variable returns to scale. Output is rural gross income and inputs are land expenses, labor expenses and expenses on other technological inputs. The covariates for production are credit, technical assistance, social, environmental, and demographic indicators and income concentration, measured by the Gini index. Overall Brazilian rural production performance responds favorably to credit, income concentration and environment score and unfavorably to technical assistance, at the 95% level. Results differ by region. Agricultural public policies envisaging inclusion of small farmers into the main stream of production should be regionally oriented.

Publication year: 2017

Types of publication: Abstract in annals or event proceedings

Keywords: Agriculture, Assistência técnica, Market analysis, Mercado, Performance, Produção agrícola, Renda