ABSTRACT 

This study investigated the Relative Efficiency of men and Women Rice Farmers in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. Primary data collected from a random sample of 168 rice farmers from 4 communities randomly selected consisting of 94 men 74 women, using well structured questionnaire and interview schedules were used in this study. The data were analyzed using statistical techniques like frequencies, percentages, averages, test of differences between means, gross margin analysis and re!ativB\ allocatve efficiency indices. The result revealed that the main source of farm land for both farmer groups is through lease/rent and highest percentage of the farmers fund their farming activities by equity/personal savings. Also majority of the farmers had no contact with extension services and the major identified problems were those associated with scarcity and high cost of labour, credit and other inputs and high incidence of pests and disease attack. Results showed further that the mean output of men rice farmers was significantly higher than that of women rice farmers. The gross margin form men farmers is higher, N51,053.08 relative to N41,328.1O of the women farmers. None of the farmer groups achieved absolute allocative efficiency. The women farmers underutilized land capital and other inputs and over-utilized labour, while the men rice farmers over-utilized land and labour and under-utilized capital and other inputs. It is recommended that barriers to formal credit should be removed, the whole extension system over hauled to achieve appropriate extension delivery in the country. A major conclusion from this work is that both men and women should be amply encouraged to take up farming seriously as a business and as a way of eradicating unemployment, poverty and food insecurity in Nigeria.