Agricultural Production Efficiency of Bethma Cultivation in Mahaweli System H

This study attempts to examine the agricultural productivity and efficiency of owner cultivators and sharecroppers, under Bethma cultivation in two Irrigation Units in the Madatugama block of the Mahaweli System H area. A stochastic frontier production function analysis reveals significant differences between productivity and technical efficiency among these types of cultivators during Yala 2004. One of the key reasons for such a result is the lack of land tenure security, which inhibits any long-term investments in shared land. Stronger farmer organizations were more likely to be efficient in productivity and technical efficiency than weaker ones. This suggests the need for strengthening the farmer organizations to increase agricultural production efficiency under the Bethma system.

DOI: 10.4038/sjae.v7i0.1820

Sri Lankan Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 7, 2005 pp.1-20