Abstract

This study was based on input and output obtained from 200 random samples of pineapple farm in South Sumatera Province. The major objective of the study is to analyze the input allocation of pineapple farm from six angles: cultivated area, seed, man power, chemical fertilizer (Urea, TSP, and KCL), manure, and insecticide. The result of Cobb Douglas production function approach indicated that, inputs had not been used optimally. Cultivated area, seed, man power, chemical fertilizer, manure, and insecticide should be increased. In the 8 input factors, cultivated area has the biggest influence on pineapple output. In aggregate, the condition of pineapple farm in this area has increasing returns to scale. From the marketing analysis, the farmers who sold their pineapple by using the shortest channel of distribution received more contribution than the other two kinds. Thus, by using the marketing efficiency analysis, the shortest channel of distribution is more efficient.

Key words: Pineapple farm, production function, marketing efficiency.