Introduction

Ensuring sufficient and nutritious food is a fundamental human need. The global population is projected to exceed 9.7 billion by mid-century, placing unprecedented pressure on agricultural systems. The conventional strategy of expanding cultivated area and increasing chemical inputs has raised production but at a significant environmental cost, including biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and water pollution. Economically, reliance on external inputs creates a vicious cycle of declining soil fertility, diminishing returns, and weakened farm resilience. Breaking this cycle requires a shift toward production systems that enhance economic sustainability by managing costs, maintaining profitability, and ensuring long-term viability. In this transition, government policies play a crucial role in shaping production incentives. Among various solutions, enhancing total factor productivity (TFP) is a strategic approach that optimizes production processes, reduces waste, and improves resource-use efficiency, thereby aligning economic interests with environmental imperatives. Previous domestic and international studies have highlighted the link between productivity and agricultural sustainability. Given the strategic importance of oilseeds such as canola and sunflower for food security and reducing import dependence, and the significant yield gaps observed across counties in East Azerbaijan Province, this study quantitatively analyzes the relationship between TFP and agricultural sustainability in these vital crops.

Method

This study was conducted on canola and sunflower farms in East Azerbaijan Province during the 2024–2025 cropping year. The statistical population consisted of 5,032 farmers. A sample size of 360 (197 canola and 163 sunflower) was determined using Cochran’s formula. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and face-to-face interviews. To calculate TFP, a price-based index number approach was adopted using three indicators: Kendrick, Tornqvist–Theil, and Fisher. The Fisher index, as the geometric mean of the Kendrick (Laspeyres-type) and Tornqvist–Theil (Paasche-type) indices, was selected as the final metric due to its ability to neutralize bias and its consistency with a flexible, homogeneous production function. The inputs considered were seed, cultivated area, labor, machinery, chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers, animal manure, and water. For measuring agricultural sustainability, the indicator-based Senanayake index was employed. This index uses data from a five-point Likert scale to create a composite score (ES) based on seven positive variables (e.g., average yield, crop rotation, use of animal manure, conservation tillage) and three negative variables (e.g., pesticide use, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer consumption), all normalized for comparability. The final sustainability index ranges from −8 (highly unsustainable) to +32 (highly sustainable). Farms were then classified into five sustainability categories (completely unsustainable, unsustainable, moderate, sustainable, and completely sustainable) based on the mean and standard deviation of the index, following the method proposed by Qamer (2002). Finally, a multiple regression model was estimated to analyze the relationship between TFP and the sustainability index (ES) and to identify other significant influencing factors. The explanatory variables included farmer’s age, education level, farming experience, crop insurance (dummy variable), production method (dummy variable), type of seed used (dummy variable), land fragmentation, and TFP.

Results

Descriptive statistics revealed that the average age of farmers was approximately 48 years, education levels were mostly below diploma, and average farm size was under 4 hectares. Participation in support programs such as insurance and extension classes was below expected levels. The analysis of TFP showed that average productivity was significantly higher for canola than for sunflower. The Fisher index demonstrated a more stable and reasonable range compared to the other indices. A wide gap between minimum and maximum TFP values for both crops indicated considerable variation in efficiency among farms. The sustainability assessment based on the ISDM index found that the majority of farms in both crops fell into the "moderate" sustainability category, with a very small percentage classified as "completely sustainable." This suggests a state of "incomplete sustainability," where farmers adopt some sustainable practices but not comprehensive ones. The combined share of unsustainable farms was about one-fifth, while sustainable farms comprised roughly one-third of the sample. The regression model confirmed that TFP was the strongest and most significant positive factor influencing sustainability. Following TFP, farmer education, the use of certified seeds, and participation in extension classes had the most substantial positive effects. Conversely, land fragmentation and farmer age had significant negative impacts on sustainability. Variables such as crop insurance, cooperative membership, and farming as a primary occupation also showed significant positive effects.

Conclusions

The study concludes that enhancing TFP is the most critical driver for improving the sustainability of oilseed production in East Azerbaijan Province. However, the current state of sustainability is "incomplete," with most farms in a moderate category, while a significant gap exists between leading and lagging farms in terms of both productivity and sustainability. Key structural and human capital challenges—including low education levels, land fragmentation, an aging farmer population, and weak institutional support—collectively constrain progress. To address these challenges, a multi-pronged strategy is recommended. For extension and education, programs should shift toward participatory approaches (e.g., farmer field schools) and focus on integrated plant nutrition and skills training for older, less-educated farmers. Structurally, policies should facilitate land consolidation through production cooperatives and promote the adoption of conservation machinery suitable for small-scale farms to overcome land fragmentation. Policy interventions should prioritize strengthening the insurance system (linking it to sustainability standards), revitalizing agricultural cooperatives for input supply and marketing, and potentially offering premium prices for sustainably certified produce. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to assess the causal effects of new technologies, threshold analysis of productivity on sustainability, and economic valuation of the environmental benefits of productivity improvements. This study’s findings underscore that, in the case of oilseeds, productivity enhancement and sustainability are not conflicting goals but mutually reinforcing objectives that require integrated policy and structural support