Resource - Use Efficiency: An Application of Stochastic Frontier Production Function to Plantain Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the resource-use efficiency of plantain farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria using the stochastic frontier production function analysis. Primary data were collected from 160 plantain farmers in Abeokuta zone of Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP). The mean efficiencies values for plantain production were 0.835, 0.675 and 0.721 for technical, allocative and economic efficiencies respectively. The return to scale value showed that plantain production was at stage of decreasing positive return to scale. The study also revealed the presence of inefficiency in the resource-use among plantain farmers in the study area (p < 0.05). The distribution of results also showed that the plantain farmers were more efficient in the use of some inputs. Changing the input combinations was observed to increase farm level efficiency. The farmers in the study area therefore need to use available input intensively so as to reduce current inefficiencies significantly.

Keywords: Food security, Plantain farmer, Allocative efficiency, Stochastic  frontier, Technical efficiency