Analysis of technical efficiency of smallholder maize farmers in Northern lao PDR: Case study of paklay district, sayaboury province

This study estimated the level of technical efficiency of smallholder maize farmers in Paklay district, Sayaboury province, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Primary data for the study was collected through the use of a set of structured questionnaires administered to 178 smallholder maize farmers in three villages in the study area. A stochastic frontier production function was used to estimate technical efficiency and to identify socioeconomic characteristics influencing technical efficiency in maize production. The key finding was that the mean technical efficiency of smallholder maize farmers was 85%. Major contributing factors to technical efficiency were educational levels, experience, farm size, agricultural group membership, and credit access.