Estimation of Virtual Yield Organic Wheat: Case Study of Khorasan Province

Ghorbani, Mohammad; Koocheki, Alireza; Mahmoudi, Hossein

Estimation of Virtual Yield Organic Wheat: Case Study of Khorasan Province

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Agricultural Economic, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

² Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

³ Department of Agroecology, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G. C

Abstract

Organic farming and organic production methods have gained importance in agriculture from environmental point of view as well as economical and social stand points. The purpose of this study was to propose a model in order to estimate the wheat production in organic farms of Khorasan province, Iran. Production of organic wheat was obtained through surveys of 167 farms. Partial elasticity of production of different inputs were derived from Cobb-Douglass production function. The results revealed that the wheat production decreased by 18.95 percent when the chemical factors were eliminated. The drop off yield of organic fields in large farms (more than 10 ha) is higher than small (less than 5 ha) and medium (5 to 10 ha) size farms due to over-use of chemicals and fertilizers. If organic products are to develop, it is recommended that financial support (subsidy), extension education, and providing non-chemical inputs be provided to compensate the related production loss.

Keywords