The effect of soil analysis applications and soil analysis subsidies on the efficiency of wheat production enterprises in Turkey: case of Edirne Province

In this study, it was determined how the efficiency of agricultural enterprises producing wheat would change if soil analysis was done or not. In Edirne province, three laboratories were selected among the laboratories with the highest number of sample acceptances for soil analysis. Total of 60 producers who applied to the laboratories in 2015 and utilized from soil analysis subsidies, and total of 40 producers with similar characteristics who did not utilize from soil analysis subsidies and consequently, total of 100 producers were interviewed. Data Envelopment Analysis was used to measure efficiency in the enterprises. The average technical efficiency (pure technical efficiency) with variable return to scale was found to be 0.90, technical efficiency coefficient was 0.83 with constant return to scale and scale efficiency was 0.92 in enterprises that had soil analysis. Allocative efficiency was determined as 0.89 on average, and economic efficiency as 0.80 on average. In the enterprises that did not have soil analysis, the technical efficiency (pure technical efficiency) coefficient with variable return to scale was 0.86 on average, the technical efficiency coefficient was 0.78 with constant return to scale and scale efficiency was 0.89. It was determined that the average allocative efficiency for the enterprises that did not have soil analysis was 0.78, and the economic efficiency was 0.68 on average. According to the results of the efficiency analysis, it was determined that the enterprises that had soil analysis operated more effectively and were more successful in terms of input use compared to the enterprises that did not have the analysis.