Analysis of Resource-Use Efficiency in Tomato Production in Jere, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the resource use efficiency of dry season tomato production among small scale farmers in Lake Alau of Jere Local Government Area of Borno state. Primary data for the study was collected using structured questionnaires and oral interviews from 60 tomato farmers. Four villages notable for tomato production were purposively selected, and from each village, 15 farmers were randomly selected. The data collected were analyzed using production function analysis. The results of the double-log production function showed that seed, herbicides, fertilizer and farm size were positively related to the output and it is significant at 1% while labour was negatively related. And the farmers were inefficient in the use of all resources, with inputs being over-utilised. This may be due to the severe nature of land fragmentation occurring around Maiduguri and Jere, being among the few relatively secure areas in the state. The study suggests that introduction of modern methods like greenhouse cultivation of tomatoes coupled with drip irrigation systems, will enable year-round cultivation and allow farmers to optimize resource use.

Keywords: Resource-use, efficiency, production function, agribusiness, Jere, tomato