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Abstract
Most research on performance evaluation of agricultural
crops in Iran analyzes technical efficiency with estimation
of stochastic production function. In this paper in spite of past
research we survey cost efficiency with panel data. Information
about input prices, yield and production cost per hectare
collected for 28 provinces in 10 years and stochastic frontier
cost function estimated with panel data in two methods,
parametric stochastic frontier and partially non-parametric stochastic
frontier. The results show that according to parameter
significance and discretion of production structure parametric
methodology is more suitable than non- parametric methodology.
Land rent (price) had maximum influence and chemical fertilizer
price had minimum influence on frontier production cost per
hectare. Cost efficiency of wheat production in Iran is suitable
and over 90 percent. Surveyed period Khuzestan province had
maximum cost efficiency and Yazd province had minimum
cost efficiency in wheat production. In whatever province
where efficiency is low, agricultural education and knowledge
needed to improve further.