Abstract:
This study evaluated the efficiency of District Agricultural Development Plans (DADPs) in
improving agricultural production and productivity in districts of the Southern Agricultural Growth
Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), The study computed the technical efficiency and examined its
major determinants. It used the 2021/22 agricultural year dataset on crop and livestock
production, where land, labor, fertilizer, seeds, and machinery were the selected inputs in the
31 LGAs. Descriptive analysis was used to examine the production inputs and outputs; Data
envelopment analysis was employed to evaluate technical efficiency, and the Tobit regression
model was used to examine the major determinants of technical efficiency among districts. The
descriptive statistics for all variables indicated that the differences in technical efficiency
between regions and districts were not statistically significant, implying that there are equal
technical efficiencies across regions and districts in the SAGCOT. About 48 percent of districts
attained full technical efficiency, with 52 percent having technical inefficiencies. This implies the
existence of substantial room for improving the DADPs. The Tobit regression model indicated
that the technical efficiency of DADPs was a function of land size, agricultural infrastructure, extension services, and farmer field schools. It is recommended that the availability and
affordability of agricultural inputs, namely land, labor, farm machinery, fertilizer, and seeds, be
ensured. In addition, districts, particularly those with lower technical efficiency, should invest in
technology, agricultural infrastructure, extension services, and farmer field schools
