Economic Efficiency Indicators of Strawberry Production A Field Study of Farms Located in the Southern and Eastern Areas of Tajoura Municipality, Libya

Abstract

This study primarily aimed to identify the main economic efficiency indicators of strawberry production for farms located in the southern and eastern parts of Tajoura Municipality, Libya, during the 2024–2025 agricultural season. The indicators examined included gross income, net income, relative profitability, the revenue-to-cost ratio, return on invested dinar, operating ratio, and profit margin. The study relied on primary data collected through a field survey using questionnaires and personal interviews, in addition to secondary data obtained from relevant institutions. A random sample of 35 farms was selected, representing 10% of the total number of strawberry farms in the study area, which amounted to approximately 350 farms.

The findings revealed that the average production cost per hectare of strawberries for the entire sample amounted to approximately LYD 96,000/ha. The corresponding values recorded in Bir Al-Turki, Al-Nashie, Al-Zatarna, and Al-Janin were about LYD 89,682, 98,614, 94,995, and 100,734 per hectare, respectively. The average net income for the study sample reached approximately LYD 24.489 thousand per hectare, while the corresponding values in Bir Al-Turki, Al-Nashie, Al-Zatarna, and Al-Janin amounted to approximately LYD 26.298, 27.386, 13.005, and 31.266 thousand, respectively. Regarding the return on invested dinar, the average value for the entire sample was estimated at 0.26, whereas the corresponding values in Bir Al-Turki, Al-Nashie, Al-Zatarna, and Al-Janin reached 0.29, 0.28, 0.14, and 0.31, respectively.

Based on the findings, the study recommends expanding strawberry cultivation due to its economic viability and its importance to the food-processing industry. It also emphasizes the need to adopt measures aimed at reducing land fragmentation and promoting the efficient utilization of production resources.