The share of farm-scale on optimizing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in irrigated wheat farms in eastern Iran

Abstract

Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and estimating technical efficiency(TE), pure technical efficiency(PTE), and scale efficiency(SE), the present study estimated the share of the optimal scale on mitigation of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions(GHGs) in irrigated wheat farms in eastern Iran. The data were collected from farmers in eastern provinces of Iran using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. The mean of TE,PTE, and SE were respectively obtained as the following: 73.5%, 92.5%, and 78.8% for North Khorasan; 59.7%, 78.7%, and 76.6% for Khorasan Razavi; 57.7%, 83.6%, and 67.7% for South Khorasan; and 73.4%, 85.8%, and 85.1% for Sistan and Baluchistan. The share of optimal scale in energy saving was 65.79% in North Khorasan, 55% in South Khorasan, 42% in Sistan and Baluchistan, and 33% in Khorasan Razavi. The optimal scale decreased GHGs the most in North Khorasan, followed by South Khorasan, Khorasan Razavi, and Sistan and Baluchistan. According to the results, the optimal farm-scale in the North and South Khorasan had a greater impact on reducing energy consumption GHGs. Therefore, for mitigating environmental impacts, planning to improve farm-scale along with technical and innovative recommendations for small-scale farmers take a higher priority in these provinces than in the other two provinces studied.