Fertilizers, Pesticides and Herbicides Use Efficiency of Rice Monoculture Farms at the Coastal Region in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta during the Winter-Spring Crop

This study evaluates the technical efficiency and input utilization of rice monoculture farms in the coastal region of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta during the Winter-Spring crop season. Using the Slack-Based Measure Data Envelopment Analysis (SBM-DEA) model, the study analyzes input redundancy and identifies inefficiencies in the use of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and irrigation resources. Based on a survey of 342 farms across five provinces, results reveal that the average technical efficiency score is 0.662, with only 12.9% of farms achieving optimal efficiency. Pesticides and irrigation were the most overused inputs, with redundancy rates of 21% and 15%, respectively, while seed use showed the lowest inefficiency at 5.95%. Determinants of efficiency included gender, farm size, and irrigation systems, with male-headed farms and larger plots exhibiting higher efficiency.