Ranking production units by integrating data envelopment analysis and multi-criteria decision-making: The case of potato-producing provinces in Iran

Efficiency is the first step towards accomplishing sustainable agriculture. To provide a comprehensive image of the status of potato-producing provinces in Iran, this research was conducted to rank potato-producing provinces in Iran using the DEA ranking models, including cross-efficiency, super efficiency, best and worst relative efficiency, and distance to the ideal hyperplane. Then to provide a more comprehensive image of their status, the results were integrated using the TOPSIS technique for 2018. In this regard, the research considered yield and gross profit as indicators of production and profitability. The results showed that considering yield as an output shows higher efficiency than when profit is considered. Higher yield efficiency than profit efficiency means that producers care more about increasing production as an objective output than increasing profitability. The rankings of the provinces revealed that different ranking models do not provide similar results, so they need to be integrated to give a more precise assessment. The integration of these indicators by the TOPSIS method shows that the provinces of Mazandaran, Kerman and West Azerbaijan, which have good ranks in yield and profit efficiency, can be good patterns for other provinces. Furthermore, profit and yield efficiency are negatively related to seed, K-fertilizer, and pesticide, so the management of biofertilizers, as well as biological control and integrated pest management, are recommended for the improvement of the efficiency of potato-producing provinces.