Technical Efficiency of Cocoyam Farmers in Adavi and Okehi Areas of Kogi Sate, Nigeria: A Stochastic Frontier Approach

• A.F. Ayanlere

  Division of Agricultural Colleges, College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Kabba Campus, Nigeria

  Author

• A.B. Mohammed

  Division of Agricultural Colleges, College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Kabba Campus, Nigeria

  Author

• O.A. Ojeleye

  Department of Agricultural Economics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria

  Author

Cocoyam in spite of its nutritional value and being one of the staple food crops in Kogi state has not been fully exploited in terms of research. This study therefore analyses the level of technical efficiency and its determinants among cocoyam farmers using stochastic production frontier approach. Primary data were collected from 190 randomly selected farmers in Adavi and Okehi Local Government Areas of Kogi State, Nigeria. Data collected on socioeconomic variables and inputoutput variables were analysed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function. The result shows that 73% of the cocoyam farmers were above 40 years of age, majority were male (72%) and had an average of about 28 years of experience in farming. Technical efficiency level among farmers ranges from 13% to 92% with mean technical efficiency of 64%. Level of education, household size, years of farming experience and mode of land acquisition were significant factors (p< 0.01) that increases level of technical efficiency and account for most of the variations observed in efficiency among the farmers. The study recommended that, there is need for improvement in the level of education and mode of land acquisition in order to further improve on the level of efficiency in production.

1. A.F. Ayanlere, Division of Agricultural Colleges, College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Kabba Campus, Nigeria

   Division of Agricultural Colleges, College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Kabba Campus, Nigeria

2. A.B. Mohammed, Division of Agricultural Colleges, College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Kabba Campus, Nigeria

   Division of Agricultural Colleges, College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Kabba Campus, Nigeria

3. O.A. Ojeleye, Department of Agricultural Economics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria

   Department of Agricultural Economics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria

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