Measurement of Technical Efficiency of Women Cassava Farmers in Ankpa Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was about technical efficiency of women cassava farmers in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. A simple random sample of 120 women cassava farmers were interviewed with a structured questionnaire and information concerning their socioeconomic attributes, revenue realized and cost incurred in cassava production were obtained. The data were analysed with the use of stochastic frontier Cobb-Douglas production function and the inefficiency model. Results indicated that farm size, family labour, hired labour, equipment depreciation, cassava stems, fertilizers and transportation had positive coefficients and thus influenced cassava output positively.  Education, household size, farming experience and extension visits increased farmers’ technical efficiency. Many farmers had high technical efficiency. The mean technical efficiency was 76 percent with a maximum of 98 percent technical efficiency. Recommendation made to improve cassava production were making farm inputs available at affordable prices, review of land tenure system, opening up of more credit agencies and increase extension visits among others.