Technical Efficiency and Determinants of Khao Gor Kor – Maejo 2 Rice Production: Insights from Stochastic Frontier Modeling

บทคัดย่อ

This study investigates the technical efficiency of Khao Gor Kor – Maejo 2 rice production in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, using the Stochastic Frontier Approach (SFA) to identify key factors influencing efficiency. Despite the introduction of improved rice varieties like Khao Gor Kor – Maejo 2, many smallholder farmers struggle to achieve optimal productivity, hindered by inefficiencies in input utilization and resource management. Primary data were collected from 400 rice farmers through structured interviews, and the SFA model was applied to estimate technical efficiency scores and determine the sources of inefficiency. The study concludes that optimizing capital and labor inputs and addressing inefficiencies through targeted interventions could substantially improve the technical efficiency of Khao Gor Kor – Maejo 2 rice production. These insights are critical for developing policies and strategies that enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability, ultimately benefiting smallholder farmers and contributing to food security in Thailand. Future research is recommended to explore additional variables and extend the analysis to other rice varieties and regions.