The Influence of Dense Planting System on the Technical Efficiency of Saffron Production and Land Use Sustainability: Empirical Evidence from Gonabad County, Iran

The cultivation of saffron, which is one the most expensive agricultural products in world, main source livelihood and economic wellbeing for rural communities Gonabad county eastern part Iran. Nevertheless, farm monitoring region has shown that many saffron growers apply a high-density planting system more profit. This practice results loss land productivity after six-year production cycle. As consequence, farmers abandon cultivated lands move to plant available virgin lands. purpose this study analyse technical efficiency farms its determinants with an emphasis on role density. A survey was conducted 2019, cross-sectional random sampling technique used select 110 growers. We first assessed using data envelopment analysis (DEA) model input orientation. In next step, scores were regressed explanatory variables OLS bootstrapped truncated regression identify related factors. find density negatively influenced efficiency, suggesting it necessary be educated negative impacts dense system.