Measuring Efficiency, Technical Change and Productivity Trend Using Malmquist Productivity Index Analysis: A Case Study of Rice Production in Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to measure the efficiency and technical change of production and estimate the rice productivity trend in four regions of Thailand using Malmquist productivity index (MPI) analysis during the crop years 2006/2007 to 2015/2016. Malmquist index analysis show that Thai rice productivity had a good performance and had an upward productivity trend but some areas need to be improved. In addition, our results indicated that Northeastern and Central had the best performance and had a productivity progression for Thai rice production. In other hand, Northern and Southern has the worst efficiency performance and had a productivity regression, which therefore should be increased the quantity of the inputs and outputs. The results from this paper contribute to improving the productivity for sustainable development. Therefore, this paper can provide important information to the Thai government, farmers, the rice research institutes and the development partners to help increase the trend of rice productivity index in some areas of Thailand.