Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Department of Agricultural Intelligent Systems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
This study investigates how technical developments in rice mechanization affect energy demand in Iran’s northern provinces (Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan) from 2013 to 2024. Using DEA-BCC to estimate energy efficiency and a System-GMM panel model for dynamic relationships, the research examines moderating factors such as energy efficiency, energy prices, and fleet technology.
Results show that Golestan has the highest pure technical efficiency (0.92), followed by Mazandaran (0.85) and Gilan (0.81). However, Golestan also records the highest energy input (77,685 MJ/ha) and energy intensity, while Gilan has the lowest energy input (34,188 MJ/ha). A key finding is an inverted U-shaped relationship between mechanization level and energy intensity. In Golestan, increasing mechanization up to 3.6 hp/ha reduces energy intensity, whereas in Gilan, due to fragmented lands and lower adoption of modern technology, more mechanization actually increases energy intensity (P<0.05). The price elasticity of energy demand is higher in Gilan (0.13) than in Golestan (0.08). Among all factors, energy efficiency is the strongest contributor to reducing energy intensity across all three provinces.
The study concludes that the impact of mechanization on energy demand is highly conditional—depending on regional characteristics, fleet technology, farm structure, and management practices. Therefore, rice mechanization policies must be tailored to each province’s specific technical and structural conditions rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.
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