Technical efficiency of pepper farms in Sarawak, Malaysia: an application of data envelopment analysis

This study is carried out to analyze the performance of pepper farms in Sarawak by estimating the level of technical efficiency and to identify the determinants of technical efficiency of pepper farms. Data Development Analysis (DEA) method were applied to estimate technical efficiency levels and Tobit analysis were used to investigate the determinants of technical efficiency of pepper farms. A sample of 678 pepper farmers was chosen for this study through field survey that was conducted from August to December 2009. The results show that the mean of technical efficiency under constant returns to scale (CRS) and variable returns to scale (VRS) were 0.567 and 0.661, respectively. Meanwhile, efficiency in farm management is positively and significantly influenced by education level, the frequency of contacts with extension agents per year, being member of farmer’s association, being full-time pepper farmers, and joining farming courses and study visits

Technology adoption in pepper farming: a case study in Sarawak, Malaysia

Farm maintenance requires before and after harvest season to minimize the damages of pepper vines and to maintain quality and quantity of pepper berries. Farm maintenance is includes mounding, liming before planting, pruning, weeds control, fertilizing, and pest and disease control. Pepper farmers had inherited about pepper farming practices from parents, based on their experience and they also learned about technology in pepper farming from extension agents. However, pepper farming practices are different among farmers because they come from different socioeconomic background. This study is carried out to examine the factors influence the adoption of technology in pepper farming among pepper farmers in Sarawak. The results show that the total pepper vines, farming experience, and education level, are significant factors influencing technology adoption in pepper farming

Determinants of cost efficiency of smallholders pepper in Sarawak, Malaysia

Pepper crop (Piper Nigrum L) is one of an important source of income for 67,000 rural families in the interior areas of Sarawak. This study is carried out to estimate technical, allocate, and cost efficiency among smallholders pepper in Sarawak. Then, the determinants of cost efficiency among smallholders pepper also investigated. It will identify the sources where improvements can be made to help the pepper farmers to minimize production cost. This study used 678 of smallholders pepper and the data is obtained from the field survey that was conducted in the month of August to December 2009. This study used a constant return to scale (CRS) input-oriented model to estimate technical efficiency and a Cost-DEA model is used to estimate cost efficiency. Mean of technical, allocative, and cost efficiency are 0.567, 0.585, and 0.438, respectively. Farmers are not efficient in input utilization and are not producing pepper yield at minimum input and minimize cost. The inefficiencies are due to misallocation of resources used. The contacts with extension agents per year, joining farmer’s organization, full-time pepper farming, and participating in farming courses and study visit and education level is positively and statistically significant with cost efficiency among smallholders pepper

Iban women and side-income generation in Bintulu

Like other women, Iban women do several activities as the side-income generation to support family life such as farming, handicraft making, and traditional food processing and business. This study aims to investigate the involvement of Iban women in the side-income generation in Bintulu, Sarawak. Thus, the target population in this study is Iban women who are involved in side-income activities only as not all Iban women in Bintulu involve in side-income activities. This study will identify the type of side-income activities and find out barriers to women's participation in side-income activities and propose relevant solutions to the problems. The questionnaire will be distributed to the target population and descriptive data analysis will be used to describe and summarize the findings. From the findings of the study, the researcher will come out with relevant suggestions to reduce and solve problems faced by Iban women in the side-income generation. For instance, propose appropriate programs and training to enhance their knowledge and skills in side-income activities that they preferred. Side-income generation among Iban women not only benefits the family but will create positive effects on Iban women development and empowerment in Sarawak generally

Inculcation of Entrepreneurship among Rural Pepper Farmers in Sarawak

Pepper farming in Sarawak has both economic and political significance in the state. While some entrepreneurs are very education and motivation

Efficiency of pepper farms in Sarawak

Pepper is one of the important crops and source of income for 67,000 families in the interior areas of Sarawak. However, pepper farmers faced a few major problems such as the increasing cost of inputs, escalating management cost of pest and disease attacks, and fluctuating pepper price at international market (DOA, 2012). Pepper farming requires a proper management of resources and farming operations to ascertain high yield at minimum cost and increase farm profit. The previous studies about efficiency in pepper production in Sarawak by Noorzakiah, Alias, and Sazali (1993), Mohd, Alias, and Ruhana (1993), and Hamid and Mansor (1997) found that pepper farms in Sarawak were inefficiently in resource use. However, there are various factors influence relative performance and efficiency level among pepper farms such as market factors, geographical location, socioeconomic background, farming practices, and government intervention. Thus, a single decision can easily make a difference between efficiency and inefficiency of pepper farms. Therefore, this study is carried out to analyze the performance of pepper farms in Sarawak by estimating the level of efficiency of pepper farms. A sample of 678 pepper farmers was selected for this study through field survey that was conducted from August to December 2009. Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and Data Development Analysis (DEA) method were applied to estimate technical, allocative, economic, and cost efficiency of pepper farms. The inefficiency model and Tobit model were used to investigate the determinants of efficiency in pepper farming. The factors of the adoption of farming technology in pepper farming among farms are estimated using Logit model. The mean technical efficiency, allocative efficiency, and economic efficiency were estimated to be 0.518, 0.496, and 0.258 respectively by using SFA method. From DEA model, the mean technical efficiency under constant returns to scale (CRS) and variable returns to scale (VRS) were 0.567 and 0.661 respectively while the mean allocative efficiency and cost efficiency were estimated to be 0.585 and 0.438 respectively. The mean efficiency scores from DEA model were higher than SFA model, these results indicate that DEA model fitted tightly to the data set compared than SFA. Pepper farms are inefficient since the mean of technical, allocative, economic, and cost efficiency of pepper farms are low. Farmers are technically inefficient in input utilization and inefficient in input allocation hence they are not maximizing the output and not minimizing cost. The inefficiencies among pepper farms are due to improper farm management and misallocation of inputs. Besides, inefficiencies among farms also due to the age of farmers where majority of sample farmers are consist of older farmers. However, the efficiency in farm management is positively and significantly influenced by education level, the frequency of contacts with extension agents per year, being member of farmer’s organization, being full-time pepper farmers, and attending farming courses and study visits. Therefore, it is imperative that farmers should improve their farm performance and efficiency level through effective of agronomic education and extension services

An idea for compensating local farmers for a sustainable method of pineapple farming

Agricultural activities have the share in contributing to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The method of residue burning (RB), which has been practiced in Samarahan, Sarawak in Malaysia contributed to the emission of carbon into the atmosphere. Steps should be taken to address this issue by promoting sustainable method of farming. Pineapple farmers can be given incentives to change to a more sustainable method such as zero burning (ZB) whereby a mechanism like the clean development mechanism (CDM) can be adopted at the local level to encourage farmers adopting this sustainable farming technique. This incentive is primarily derived from the value of carbon sequestered in the soil through the practice of ZB. Although farmer will suffer financial loss due to additional cost, they can be compensated for this loss under ZB. Thus, farmers still can receive better income with the compensation and at the same continuing to practice ZB