The Efficiency of Small Farmers in Goiânia/Brazil for Food Security: An Analysis by the DEA Method

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the efficiency of the provision of healthier foods for public school students whose offer was made by family farmers. The importance of this work stems from the need to change the eating habits of children and young people, based on the assumptions of Food Security. In addition, proving the efficiency of small farmers is important to encourage Solidarity Economy projects in order to raise the incomes of the poorest workers. We use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) as a research method, through the Variable Returns of Scale (VRS) model oriented to the output. The choice of this model is justified because it takes into account the scale of production and the need to increase the number of schools served by small farmers. Our results show that small producers are efficient especially in agricultural products (Vegetables, Tuberous vegetables and Fruits). On the other hand, more elaborate products (Canned food, Flour and semolina, Dairy products) did not reach the efficiency. This result shows that schools can be supplied with fresh and healthy food from the region itself, benefiting the health of children and young people and the economy of small local farmers.