Economic Viability of Poultry Farmers in Pakistan: A Case Study of District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

This study was aimed to economic evaluate of broiler farms in Egypt by using data Envelopment analysis (DEA).A total number of 50 farm records were collected from different broiler farms within different provinces (Sharkia, Dakhlia and Gharbia).The data collected from a cross-section survey of broiler farmers from a random sample using a face-to-face questionnaire.Farms having up to 5000 birds were classified as small, those with 5000-10000birds as medium and those over 10000 birds as large.Different efficiencies were analyzed by using data Envelopment analysis (DEA) and also different economic parameters were analyzed by SPSS.Results showed that, for the small farms, the mean economic efficiency estimated from DEA frontier was 62% for VRS (Variable Return to Scale).That indicates for the given the level of inputs used, the farms could produced 38 % more of output production or could have used 38% less input costs to obtain the same level of output.For medium farms the mean economic efficiency estimated from DEA frontier was 41% for VRS.Which indicates that for the given the level of inputs used, the farms could produced 59 % more of output production or could have used 59% less input costs to obtain the same level of output.For large farms, the mean economic efficiency estimated from DEA frontier are 84% for VRS.Which indicates that for the given the level of inputs used, the farms could produced 16% more of output production or could have used 16% less input costs to obtain the same level of output.The net profits are significant (P< 0.05) between different densities.They were 1.91, 1.50 and 3.04 LE/bird for small, medium and large farms respectively.The results indicated that the large farms are more economic efficient and small are economic efficient than medium farms.Finally, we concluded that the large scale farms are more efficient than small and medium farms due to the least total costs and best management methods and recommended the small and medium farms to follow up feeding programs and veterinary services that applied in these farms that in turn decrease the total costs and increase profits.