Resource Use Efficiency of Upland Rice Farmers in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State
Ume Smiles Ifeanyichukwu *
Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Ezeano Caleb Ike
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
Edeh Ogochukwu Nnenna
National Root Crops Research Institute, Igbarian Substation, Anambra East, Anambra State, Nigeria
Udefi Ifeanyi Onochie
Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Yaba Lagos, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A stochastic frontier production function which incorporated a model for the technical inefficiency effects was used to investigate the technical efficiency of upland farms in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Farm level and farmers’ socio economic characteristics data were obtained using structured questionnaire from 120 farmers that were selected using multi stage random sampling technique. The parameters of the stochastic frontier production function were estimated simultaneously with those of the model of inefficiency effects. Results indicated, except for capital, all other factors were significant (P<0.10). Findings further revealed that none of the sampled cocoyam farms reached the frontier threshold.
Keywords: Resource use, efficiency, upland rice, farmers