The objective of this paper is to estimate comprehensive environmental efficiency measures for Dutch dairy farms. The environmental efficiency scores are based on the nitrogen surplus, phosphate surplus and the total (direct and indirect) energy use of an unbalanced panel of dairy farms. We define environmental efficiency as the ratio of minimum feasible to observed use of multiple environmentally detrimental inputs, conditional on observed levels of output and the conventional inputs. We compare two methods for the calculation of efficiency; namely Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). This paper reveals the strengths and weaknesses for estimating environmental efficiency of the methods applied. Both SFA and DEA can estimate environmental efficiency scores. The mean technical efficiency scores (output-oriented, SFA 89%, DEA 78%) and the mean comprehensive environmental efficiency scores (SFA 80%, DEA 52%) differ between the two methods. SFA allows hypothesis testing, and the monotonicity hypothesis is rejected for the specification including phosphate surplus. DEA can calculate environmental efficiency scores for all specifications, because regularity is imposed in this method.

Environmental efficiency with multiple environmentally detrimental variables; estimated with SFA and DEA

Health hazards and adoption of personal protective equipment during cotton harvesting in Pakistan

Objective To analyze and estimate the environmental efficiency of China's vegetable production. Methods The stochastic translog frontier model was used to estimate the technical efficiency of vegetable production. Based on the estimated frontier and technical inefficiency levels, we used the method developed by Reinhard, et al.[1] to estimate the environmental efficiency. Pesticide and chemical fertilizer inputs were treated as environmentally detrimental inputs. Results From estimated results, the mean environmental efficiency for pesticide input was 69.7%, indicating a great potential for reducing pesticide use in China's vegetable production. In addition, substitution and output elasticities for vegetable farms were estimated to provide farmers with helpful information on how to reallocate input resources and improve efficiency. Conclusion There exists a great potential for reducing pesticide use in China's vegetable production.

Environmental Efficiency Analysis of China＇s Vegetable Production

. Le TL, Luu TTH, Huynh N, Chung RH. 2020. Environmental efficiency of rice production in Vietnam: An application of SBM-DEA with undesirable output. Biodiversitas 21: 2710-2715. In Vietnam, the agricultural sector is one of major sources of the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and over half of that comes from rice cultivation. This study evaluates the environmental efficiency of 400 rice farms in the Mekong Delta using slack-based measure (SBM) data envelopment analysis (DEA) with considering the total amount of CO2-equivalent (CO2-eq) emissions in the rice field as undesirable output. The findings revealed that the average environmental efficiency score of the farmers was very low, just only 0.461. Only 2.25% of the sample farms were environmentally efficient while majority of them (58%) obtained the efficiency values less than the mean indicating that their environmental efficiency needs to be further improved. The small rice farms were higher in environmental efficiency scores compared with large farms. The sample rice farmers who are members of agricultural cooperatives obtained a significantly higher environmental efficiency than the non-cooperative members. The estimated results of input and bad output excesses showed that about 1.35 tons of CO2-eq ha-1 could be reduced and an average of 54.18 kg N ha-1 could be saved in order to improve the environmental performance of rice production in the study area.

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Environmental efficiency of rice production in Vietnam: An application of SBM-DEA with undesirable output

Abstract The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence and possible predictors of health hazards and their effects on health cost of pesticide applicators and non-applicators. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 580 farm households using multistage sampling technique. The pesticide applicators and non-applicators involved in cotton production were interviewers by the survey team. The prevalence of occupational hazards was higher among the pesticide applicators than non-applicators. Logit regression analysis revealed that the more educated, well trained workers were relatively less vulnerable. Similarly, personal protective measures such as wearing boots and protective handkerchief, and taking bath after pesticide application reduced probability of health risk. Prolonged exposure to pesticide, distance from hospital, and smoking habits were risk factors for development of occupational hazards among the pesticide applicators and non-applicators. The total mean score of health cost resulting from occupational hazards was significantly lower in pesticide non-applicators than pesticide applicators. Workers involved in pesticide application are at higher risk for developing occupational hazards that adversely affects general health and quality of life. The study urges policymakers to formulate programs for proper training of farm workers, encouraging the use of personal preventive measures and the provision of health facilities to farm workers. This will not only improve health of workers but also save undue expenses on medical treatment.

Nexus of pesticide exposure, personal preventive measures and farm workers’ health safety in cotton production

In this research article, we have made an attempt to determine possibility of a reduction in pesticide use and factors affecting pesticide use in bitter gourd production. Stochastic production function frontier was used to determine technical efficiency and on the basis of this, input-oriented environmental efficiency was determined. Determinants of environmental efficiency were explored using OLS method. Results showed that the huge potential existed to reduce the use of environmental contaminating variables without sacrificing yield in bitter gourd production. Farming experience, tenancy, access to information and credit were significantly related with environmental efficiency in bitter gourd production. The findings have important policy recommendation that by strengthening agricultural extension services and capacity building of vegetable growers, higher environmental efficiency can be achieved in vegetable production.

Junior Scientist

Papers

Determinants of Environmental Efficiency in Bitter Gourd Production in Pakistani Punjab