Eficiência técnica de produtores de coco do perímetro Curu-Paraipaba, Estado do Ceará.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to measure and analyze the technical efficiency of 55 coconut farms in the irrigated perimeter of Curu-Paraipaba, state of Ceará, Brazil. To that end, we used the Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier method, whose results show average elasticities, except for labor hiring costs. Moreover, input expenditures positively influenced coco production. The five growers closest to the efficient frontier produce an average of 104,600 units of coco in 4.5 hectares of area and show an average cost of supplies of R$6,050.60. On the other hand, the five growers farthest from the efficiency frontier produce an average of 11,040 units of coco in 3.5 hectares of area, being their average annual cost of supplies R$4,814.00. Considering producers with efficiency scores from 0.6 to 1.0 as efficient, 37 were found between these values, making up 67.27% of the sample.