Abstract
Yield of vegetables can be enhanced substantially by improving level of technical efficiency without making
additional cost. Keeping this in view, technical efficiency of growing bitter gourd in the two districts of Punjab was
estimated. Data were gathered by employing purposive sampling technique from Faisalabad and Rahim Yar Khan
Districts of Punjab, Pakistan during 2003. Stochastic frontier production function was used to estimate technical
efficiency and its determinants. Cobb Douglas type production function was adopted to determine technical
efficiency among bitter gourd growers. Results indicated that irrigation, labour and location were contributing
towards higher yield whereas fertilizer was negatively related with yield in the production function. Inefficiency
effect model showed that age of bitter gourd growers was positively related with technical inefficiency while family
size, fertilizer and plant protection measures were found decreasing technical inefficiency. Average technical
efficiency was 60 percent indicating that there exist a great potential to increase bitter gourd yield, with available
resources and technology.
