AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FOR EFFECTIVE FACTORS IN SUPPLY RESPONSE OF SESAME CROP IN IRAQ FROM 1980 TO 2003

Abstract

Sesame is regarded as one of the most important oil and food crops in Iraq as it contains about (45 -60)% of oil which is used in local industry in oil production which is ready to consume .Inspite of the economic importance of this crop, it,s still planted in limited area all over the country because of the multing problems which is associated with its planting .This research is aimed to estimate the response of the sesame acreage at the country level using a time series data of (1980-2003) period .The estimated results indicated that the main variables affecting the response of the acreage are lagged area of the crop, index number of sesame price, relative prices of cotton as alternative crop and irrigation water . These variables explained (71%) of the total variation in planted area . The values of price elasticities of supply of sesame in the short run was (0.04) with respect to the sesame price, (-0.21) with respect to the cotton price and (0.16) with respect to the irrigation water, while was (0.1 , -0.47 , 0.37) , respectively on the long run .The estimated elasticity of total production of crop was (1.123) with respect to the acreage, (0.061) with respect to the sesame price, (-0.054) with respect to the cotton price and (0.11) with respect to the irrigation water.