Technical efficiency, sensitivity analysis and economic assessment applying data envelopment analysis approach: A case study of date production in Khuzestan State of Iran

Abstract Efficiency has become the basis for boosting the environmental satisfaction and economic performance of gardens. The major goal of this research is to optimize the date production process by minimizing the quantity of inputs in the process using parametric and non-parametric approaches, as well as to investigate the amount of energy consumption and economic indicators in the date palm production in Iran's Khuzestan region. For this purpose, data envelopment analysis (DEA: CRS & VRS and Anderson-Peterson) was used to optimize energy efficiency and present the ideal pattern of input consumption. Also, the transcendental production function was developed to represent the relationship between energy consumption and product performance. The outcomes revealed that the average entire energy expenditure in date palm production was 35.52 GJ ha−1. Among inputs, irrigation, diesel and manure have contributed to the highest energy consumption and their contribution was calculated to be 43.92%, 32.86% and 9.49%, respectively. The average of energy ratio, energy productivity, energy intensity and net energy gain were equal to 3.66, 0.39 kg MJ−1, 2.70 MJ kg−1 and 91290.66 MJ ha−1, respectively. Moreover, direct and indirect energy, as well as renewable and non-renewable energy, were computed at 76.64%, 26.46%, 56.28%, and 43.72%, respectively. DEA approach showed that there is potential to prompt sustainability, and based on the constant return to scale 10.15% of input energy is able to be alleviated. The coefficient determination of the transcendental production function model was obtained as 0.92 and gross return, benefit-cost ratio, economic productivity, payback period, invest return rate, percentage of production at the break-even point and profit per kg were calculated as 3550.63 $ ha−1, 0.44, 1.67, 2.23 year, 0.44, 2.26 and 0.26 $ kg−1, respectively. To save energy, it is suggested that solar energy be used instead of diesel fuel to extract water, and that simultaneous cultivation be implemented to limit the usage of chemical fertilizers.