Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences (PJSS) Vol. 34, No. 1 (2014), pp. 167-176 Determinants of Environmental Efficiency in Bitter Gourd Production in Pakistani Punjab Khuda Bakhsh Assistant Professor, Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan Sarfraz Hassan Associate Professor Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan Muhammad Asif Kamran Scientist (Economist) Nuclear Institute of Agriculture and Biology, Pakistan Rashed Saeed Junior Scientist Social Sciences Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan Corresponding author’s email: kbmultan@uaf.edu.pk Abstract: In this research article, we have made an attempt to determine possibility of a reduction in pesticide use and factors affecting pesticide use in bitter gourd production. Stochastic production function frontier was used to determine technical efficiency and on the basis of this, input-oriented environmental efficiency was determined. Determinants of environmental efficiency were explored using OLS method. Results showed that the huge potential existed to reduce the use of environmental contaminating variables without sacrificing yield in bitter gourd production. Farming experience, tenancy, access to information and credit were significantly related with environmental efficiency in bitter gourd production. The findings have important policy recommendation that by strengthening agricultural extension services and capacity building of vegetable growers, higher environmental efficiency can be achieved in vegetable production. Keywords: Stochastic frontier; Translog production function; Pesticide; Determinants I. Introduction Agricultural production practices considerably contribute in environmental degradation resulting in a loss of GDP annually in Pakistan. Indiscriminate use of environmental contaminating inputs, such as pesticide and fertilizers are considered common source of environmental degradation in agriculture sector. Further, vegetables consume huge amounts of these farm inputs after cotton crop (GOP, 2012). Moreover,