Technical Efficiency and Constraints among Medium Scale Maize Production in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study presents the empirical analysis of the constraints and determinants of technical efficiency in medium – scale maize production in Oyo state, Nigeria. Primary data were collected on 76 medium scale maize farmers selected from some major maize producing agricultural area Afijio L. G. A. in Oyo state Nigeria. The selection of respondents was multi – staged and involved random sampling as well as purposive sampling methods. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the constraints on maize production while translog stochastic frontier model was used to estimate the determinants of technical efficiency of the farmers. The major constraints on maize production as perceived by medium – scale farmers among others was inadequate processing facilities (39.5%) and lack of mechanical services (25.0%). The average technical efficiency about 75%. The determinants of technical efficiency which were statistically significant were sex, age and experience, sex and age had an inverse relationship with technical inefficiencies of farmers while experience had a direct relationship. Hence, Nigeria, public and private policies that would improve the farmers’ experience in maize production especially in handing the available technologies would lead to significant increase in the level of technical efficiency in medium – scale maize production.

Keywords: Technical Efficiency, Constraints, Stochastic Frontier, Maize production, Nigeria