Technical Efficiency of Pesticide Application on Tomato, Chinese Cabbage and Cauliflower in Simpang Empat Sub-District Karo Regency
Abstract
Prior research by authors on the use of pesticides and their
impact on 75 vegetable farmers in Simpang Empat subdistrict, Karo
district, North Sumatra showed that 60% of respondents applied pesticides
in excess of the packaging instructions. Respondents were also found not
to use a complete protective device. Almost 70% of respondents have mild
toxicity complaints, and based on blood cholinesterase levels are also
found most respondents have mild toxicity. Pesticide residue test results
also found 0.728 residues of chlorpyrifos and 0.321 profenofos in
vegetables produced in this area. This led to continued review by checking
the technical efficiency in the use of pesticides. The method used is a
quantitative method with the Data Envelope Analysis (DEA) approach to
analyze technical efficiency of pesticide on each commodity. The
population is the whole vegetable farmer who grew tomatoes, Chinese
cabbage and cauliflower at the time of the study. The entire population is
used to be a sample of 35 tomato and cauliflower farmers and 20 Chinese
cabbage farmers. The results of the study indicate that the uses of pesticide
as production inputs on tomato commodities, Chinese cabbage and
cauliflower are not technically efficient. It is suggested to farmers to use
pesticide input according to the rules, proper dosage, on target, on time, the
right way so that pesticide used is technically efficient.