Evaluation on agricultural production efficiency of Guangdong Province by using DEA window analysis

Agricultural production efficiency is of the basis of comprehensive productive capacity of agriculture. Guangdong Province is now in promotion stage of modern agricultural development, which emphasizes agricultural production efficiency research. Using DEA (data envelopment analysis) theory, agricultural input-output efficiencies in 21 city-regions in Guangdong Province were calculated for 1994~2007. The relative efficiency and dynamic behavior of agricultural production were compared and evaluated laterally (i.e., the same region but at different time windows) and longitudinally (i.e., different regions at the same time window). The results depicted some gaps in average agricultural productivity and dynamic stability among regions. Agricultural input-output performance of the Pearl River Delta was relatively optimal. Although the performance level in the “east-west double wings” region was less than that in the Pearl River Delta region, developmental trend in agricultural productivity in the “east-west double wings” was more stable. Regions of lower agricultural productivity and significant fluctuations were concentrated in the mountain areas of northern Guangdong. While the lowest agricultural productivity efficiency was in Qingyuan City, the highest variation in agricultural productivity was in Shaoguan City. The findings laid not only the basis for in-depth insight into provincial agricultural input-output efficiency and development trends, but also provided information basis for related departments to establish management policies that can enhance agricultural productivity.