Analysis of Resource-Use Efficiency in Dry Season Vegetable Production in Jere, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the resource-use efficiency in vegetable production in Jere   L.G.A. of Borno State, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained from primary source with the aid of a structured questionnaire using the interview schedule. The data were for 2010 cropping season collected between October-December of 2010. Five villages notable for vegetables production were purposely chosen for the study and responses from 100 vegetable farmers from the four villages were used in the analyses. Production function analysis which incorporates the conventional neoclassical test of economic and technical efficiencies was used as the analytical technique. Findings revealed that seed (p<0.01), land (p<0.01), herbicide (p<0.10) and pesticide (p<0.01) significantly affected the vegetable output. And the farmers were inefficient in the use of all the resources. Farm inputs such as seed, land and pesticide were under-utilized while herbicide, fertilizer and labour were over-utilized. The study concludes that if additional units of seed, pesticide and land were available and accessible, it would lead to an increase in vegetable yield by 114.58, 322.64 and 568.72kg per hectare among the farmers respectively. The study suggests that there is need for making inputs such as improved seeds and herbicide affordable and accessible to the farmers so as to improve efficiency. Also policies that encourage the testing of soils fertility for fertilizer recommendations and creation of alternative employment opportunities to absorb the excess labour used in vegetable production in the area should be formulated.

Key words: Resource-use, efficiency, production function, jere, vegetable, production