Technical Efficiency Measurement among Maize Farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study focused on the technical efficiency among maize farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. The data for the study were collected from 400 maize farmers by a multistage random sampling technique through a questionnaire. The data were analyzed through the use of simple descriptive statistics and Cobb-Douglas stochastic production function. The result of the study showed that majority of maize farmers were males, married with an average household size of nine (9) persons. Their average age was 49 years, having one level of education or the other. They operated on small scale and had more than six (6) years of farming experience. Land, seed, fertilizer and labour were significantly and positively related to maize output while age, education, accessibility to credit facilities, cooperative membership and farming experience were the significant determinant of technical efficiency in the study area. It is suggested that Government, non-governmental organization and community based organization and the farmers themselves should come up with programmes and policies that will facilitate technical efficiency in the study area.

Keywords: Maize, Farmers, Efficiency, Kogi, Nigeria.