Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : COST-SIZE RELATIONSHIP AND EFFICIENCY OF PALM GROVES IN THE AL-HASA OASIS, SAUDI ARABIA

Auteur :

Etablissement de soutenance : University of Northern Colorado

Grade : Doctorat 1976

Résumé
This study attempted to answer the following questions : 1. How significant is the problem of small farm size in the Al-Hasa Oasis as related to efficiency ? 2. Which farm size classes are considered efficient and inefficient ? 3. What is the rank of the various farm sizes according to their economic efficiency ? 4. What effects do cultural and traditional factors exert on the promotion of efficiency ?

In answering the first question, descriptive statistics were utilized to give a comprehensive picture of farmsize- distribution throughout the Oasis. The second and third questions were answered by developing a cost-benefit analysis of twelve farm-size classes. The relationship between farm size and its ranking order was measured by Spearman’s coefficient of rank correlation, and the "t" test was utilized to determine if the relationship was significant at the 99 percent level of confidence. The fourth question was answered by analyzing data pertaining to four factors : age of holders, production orientation, type of tenure, and fragmentation.

It was concluded that the problem of small farm size in the Oasis is indeed acute. Accordingly, it is recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture and Water adopt appropriate measures leading to the consolidation of farms less than twenty donums. Classes 1-4 were considered inefficient since the benefit-to-cost ratios for these classes were less than one. Inasmuch as these classes constituted over 50 percent of the cultivated area, it was concluded that over half of the cultivated land in the Oasis was farmed inefficiently. Since both the cost and the benefit per unit of land were found to be inversely associated with farm size, substantial gains in benefit from agricultural products could be realized by a reorganization of the small farm. Liquidation of those small farms in Classes 1-4 in favor of larger farm units should result in the reduction of the total cost of production per unit of land. The answer to the third question also involved the benefit-to-cost ratio which, as a measure of efficiency, tended to increase as farm size increased. The lit II test analysis, performed to measure the relationship between farm size and efficiency, indicated that these were positively correlated. The relationship was significant at the 99 percent level of confidence. Most of the farmers of the Oasis were over 54 years of age. Although approximately 8 percent of the total farmland was producing for home consumption, the proportion was exceptionally high for Class 1, i.e. about 50 percent. A low tenant rate was an encouraging feature of the Oasis since over 61 percent of all farmland in the twelve farm-size classes was operated by full owners. Most of the holdings in Classes 1-2 were not fragmented ; however, the degree of fragmentation did tend to increase as farm size increased. In order to reduce the total cost per donum of small farms, special attention should be centered on the reduction of labor costs.

A preliminary cadastral register of all the farms in the Oasis would be necessary for the implementation of farm consolidation. Furthermore, the 1973-1974 agricultural questionnaire does not provide enough agricultural data for a complete analysis, and another system should be developed for collecting detailed information.

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Présentation (Alwelaie)