Efficiency Scale of Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis Farming and Their Determinants

Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis planting centers are spread across several districts in Bali. The expansion of Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis farming carried out by the community and/or the thinning of old plants is believed to have changed the proportion of production factor utilization. This condition will have an impact on the achievement of Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis farming efficiency. This research aims to analyze (1) the technical efficiency and (2) scale of efficiency of Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis farming. This survey research approach was carried out in Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis production centers in Bali Province. A total of 139 respondents were determined using a quota sampling technique. Data collection was carried out through interviews with respondent farmers using a questionnaire. The collected and tabulated data was analyzed using data envelopment analysis (DEA model) to determine the technical efficiency and scale of efficiency. The average technical efficiency of Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis farming was 0.93. The average efficiency scale for Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis farming was obtained at 0.87. The efficiency scale for Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis farming is highest in the planting area >50 strata. Based on the results of this research, it is recommended that Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis farmers with a planting area of <50 acres reorganize the proportion of use of production factors in accordance with the proportion of production factors used in Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis farming with a planting area of >50 acres. The technical efficiency of Salacca zalacca var. amboinensis farming is more influenced by management intensity and targeted inputs than by land expansion or quantitative increases in inputs such as fertilizers.