Determining the optimal combination of production factors in pomegranate production farms in Diyala Province-Iraq: An analytical study for the season 2022

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the reality of pomegranate production in Diyala Governorate - Iraq for the season 2022 using the Cobb-Douglas function model, with the aim of achieving optimization in production through the Lagrange method. The production function it estimated for a sample of pomegranate orchards, the function included production, as a dependent factor and each of labor, capital, and area are independent factors. The optimal combination of productive factors that achieve the optimal production volume reached (6.985) tons / hectare in the short-run. The total cost function was also estimated, including the optimal production volume in the long- run, which reduces costs, reaching (30.8) tons / hectare, which is achieved by exploiting the optimal area of the orchard, which amounted to (32.667) hectare. While the long-run profit-maximizing production reached (21.077) tons/hectare, it was recommended to use the optimal combination of production factors that have been reached, which achieve optimal production that reduces costs, and then increase the areas planted with pomegranate trees in the long-run in the study region.