Technical Efficiency and Public Policies in Agriculture: An Analysis for the Eastern Amazon Region

The agricultural sector in one of the most dynamic industries Brazilian economy and is responsible for about 30% GDP state Pará, located Eastern Amazon region. This mainly due to public policies developed sector, with emphasis on National Policy Technical Assistance Rural Extension (PNATER) Credit, addition conditional cash transfer programs such as Bolsa Família (Family Allowance). Given this scenario, purpose research determine technical efficiency rural facilities observe effect these their inefficiency. methodology employed order achieve objectives stochastic frontier approach, data used was obtained from a special tabulation based 2006 Agricultural Census. main results evidence that credit policies, social welfare programs, support are important reduce inefficiency State Pará. latter, however, not statistically significant.