Resource Productivity and Technical Efficiency of Small Scale Groundnut Farmers in Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study which was carried out in Taraba State, Nigeria investigated the resource productivity and technical efficiency of groundnut farmers in the State. Data for the study were obtained using a structured questionnaire administered to a total of 270 small scale groundnut farmers. Farm size, seed, family labour and use of agrochemicals were the factors that affected the technical efficiency of the farmers. In the case of allocative efficiency, farming experience, literacy level and family size were found to be significant. The level of profit made by the farmers was influenced by costs of seed, labour, transport and storage. The average scores for technical, allocative and economic efficiencies were 0.77, 0.70 and 0.54 respectively. The groundnut farmers were, therefore, not economically efficient. Improvement in their efficiency levels requires that attention be given to their costs of operation and their socioeconomic characteristics.

Keywords: Productivity, Technical, Allocative, Economic, Efficiency