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Farm Resource Technical Efficiencies' Determinants in Rural Cassava Farms in Kogi State, Nigeria

Farm Resource Technical Efficiencies' Determinants in Rural Cassava Farms in Kogi State, Nigeria This study was designed to determine the technical efficiencies of farm resource in rural farms within Nigeria’s second largest producer of cassava, Kogi State. A total of 174 cassava farmers from two agricultural zones of the state were sampled. Analysis of questionnaire items was done using a Cobb-Douglas function and Chow’s Break-Point test. The farm inefficiencies’ levels and sources were determined using stochastic frontier model using Frontier 4.1 software. Farm credit, farm size, chemical fertiliser quantity applied, labour and seedlings planted were significant determinants at 0.05 per cent and 0.01 levels. An increasing return to scale (4.855) was confirmed among the farms while the overall technical efficiencies were high (81%). A statistically significant variation existed in productivity levels of the two zones studied. 1.0 Introduction Cassava belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. Two varieties of the cassava are of economic value: the bitter, or poisonous (Manihot esculenta); and the sweet, or non- poisonous (Manihot dulcis). (Microsoft Encarta Premium 2009). Cassava is the chief source of tapioca and ‘garri’; its roots are eaten as food, fed to stock, or used in the manufacture of starch and glucose. The leaves are used as vegetables and source of vitamins, mineral and proteins (Alabi http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Asia-Pacific Journal of Rural Development SAGE

Farm Resource Technical Efficiencies' Determinants in Rural Cassava Farms in Kogi State, Nigeria

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Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© 2010 Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific
ISSN
1018-5291
eISSN
2074-0131
DOI
10.1177/1018529120100203
Publisher site
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Abstract

This study was designed to determine the technical efficiencies of farm resource in rural farms within Nigeria’s second largest producer of cassava, Kogi State. A total of 174 cassava farmers from two agricultural zones of the state were sampled. Analysis of questionnaire items was done using a Cobb-Douglas function and Chow’s Break-Point test. The farm inefficiencies’ levels and sources were determined using stochastic frontier model using Frontier 4.1 software. Farm credit, farm size, chemical fertiliser quantity applied, labour and seedlings planted were significant determinants at 0.05 per cent and 0.01 levels. An increasing return to scale (4.855) was confirmed among the farms while the overall technical efficiencies were high (81%). A statistically significant variation existed in productivity levels of the two zones studied. 1.0 Introduction Cassava belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. Two varieties of the cassava are of economic value: the bitter, or poisonous (Manihot esculenta); and the sweet, or non- poisonous (Manihot dulcis). (Microsoft Encarta Premium 2009). Cassava is the chief source of tapioca and ‘garri’; its roots are eaten as food, fed to stock, or used in the manufacture of starch and glucose. The leaves are used as vegetables and source of vitamins, mineral and proteins (Alabi

Journal

Asia-Pacific Journal of Rural Development – SAGE

Published: Dec 1, 2010

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