Farm-Level Efficiency of Digital Agri-Food Technologies under Water Scarcity: Evidence from the Aral Sea Region

¹ University of Innovation Technologies, Nukus 230100, Uzbekistan
² Karakalpak State University named after Berdakh, 230100 Nukus, Uzbekistan

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Water scarcity remains one of the most pressing constraints to agricultural productivity in the Aral Sea region. Dehkan farms operate under limited irrigation resources, making efficient input allocation essential for sustainable production. However, empirical evidence on whether digital agri-food technologies improve farm-level efficiency in water-constrained environments is still limited. This study aims to evaluate the technical efficiency of dehkan farms and examine the impact of digital technology adoption on production performance under water scarcity conditions. The analysis is based on primary survey data collected from 120 farms in Karakalpakstan during the 2025 agricultural season. An input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model under variable returns to scale is applied to estimate technical efficiency. Farms are classified into digital adopters and conventional producers for comparative assessment. Results indicate that digitally oriented farms demonstrate higher average efficiency scores and improved irrigation water use compared to conventional farms. The findings suggest that digital irrigation practices and improved farm management systems contribute to enhanced resource efficiency. Strengthening institutional support and expanding access to digital technologies can improve agricultural sustainability in the Aral Sea region.