The variations in rice productivity in the irrigated and rainfed farming ecosystems in the Philippines from
1996/1997 to 2006/2007 are estimated using a stochastic metafrontier, which is a production function
that envelops the production frontiers of the two farming ecosystems. The productivity levels are also
compared across the two ecosystems through time. Results indicate that farms in the rainfed farming
ecosystem achieve productivity levels only slightly different from those of farms in the irrigated farming
ecosystem. Some farms in both ecosystems were able to achieve the highest possible output with
respect to the metafrontier in all the seasons studied. The adoption and diffusion of appropriate technologies
to the other farmers can narrow the technology gap that exists within and between the two
farming ecosystems. As technical inefficiency is found on many farms within ecosystems, there is potential
for most producers in both farming ecosystems to improve productivity with more efficient use of
resources at the farm level. We find that technological progress is absent, confirming previous evidence
of a lack of substantial productivity growth in the past decade. Research and development of improved
rice technologies is needed to shift the metafrontier outwards.