Enhancing technical efficiency of rice production in major rice producing countries of Asia and Africa can
have positive impacts on farm household income, alleviation of poverty, and improvement of the
livelihoods of millions. Using household income and expenditure survey (HIES) data from Bangladesh
and a stochastic frontier production function estimation approach, we examine the technical efficiency of
the rice farmers in Bangladesh. Particular attention is given to abiotic stress factors such as maximum
temperature and rainfall. Results indicate that while maximum temperature (drought) alone leads to a
significant loss in rice production, both maximum temperature and rainfall (floods) are major
contributors to technical inefficiency in Bangladeshi rice farming. On the other hand, household assets
and off-farm wages tend to increase technical efficiency.