Technical Efficiency And Its Determinants In Yam Production In Nasarawa State Of Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to measure technical efficiency and its determinants among yam farmers in Nasarawa State using the stochastic frontier. However, the yam production system in the study area was examined and farmers were found IO be using mound approach in yam production, conversant with the use of herbicides and practicing either sole yam cropping, intercropping yam with arable crops or a combination of both. The result of the production factors was compa[CU with the OLS regression result. Farm - level data were collected from a sample of 160 yam farmers in Nasarawa State by use of a well-structured questionnaire, complemented with an interview schedule. The empirical result indicates that yam production exhibited increasing returns - to - scale. Cost of planting materials, labour input, cost of fertilizer, capital and farm size were the major factors that accounted for variation in yam output while credit status, education, farming experience, household size and extension contact were among the significant factors that account for the variation in technical efficiency. The analysis shows wide variation in the technical efficiency, ranging between 27.16 percent and 94.41 percent and a mean of 48.61 percent. The results of the study show that the fariners are not using their resources efficiently. Credit, extension and farming experience are the important variables that determine technical efficiency which can be incorporated into the agricultural policy in Nigeria in order to improve on the current level of technical efficiency and hence the level of yam productivity in Nasarawa State.