Production Frontier of Small Scale Pearl Millet Farmers: A Comparison of Conservation and Traditional Agricultural Practices in the Northern Namibia

Abstract

This study fits a stochastic Cobb-Douglas production frontier of the pearl millet smallholder farmers and examined their technical efficiency comparing Conservation and Traditional Agriculture practices. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire administrated to 100 randomly selected smallholder farmers in Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Oshana and Kavango regions during the 2014-2015 planting season. The estimated parameter of the model shows that land availability, the level of fertilizer use and tractor power explains variations in the production of pearl millet. The efficiency analysis result shows there is no statistically significant difference in the technical efficiency of farmers who were exposed to conservation agriculture compared to their traditional method of agriculture. The inefficiency model indicates that farm experience, farm size, and farm training have significant positive effect on efficiency. In addition, the study examined farmers willingness to pay for extension services, the predicted probability of getting farmers who are willing to pay is 60%. Some socio-economic factors such as farm size, herd size, and membership of a cooperative were found to influence farmers’ willingness to pay for extension service. The study recommends that Conservation Agriculture should be continued over a long period of time so that the impact can be felt. Capacity building, training, extension services, information on agronomic practices and farmer’s education are factors that policy should address.

Keywords: technical efficiency, Conservation Agriculture, pearl millet, stochastic production frontier.