DETERMINANT FACTORS OF TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN YAM PRODUCTION IN MORO LGA, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants factors of technical efficiency using the stochastic frontier production function which incorporates the inefficiency model. A sample of 150 yam farmers were randomly selected from 17 wards of Moro LGA in Kwara State, Nigeria. Data was collected from the respondents with the aid of a structured interview schedule. The empirical result showed that land size, fertilizer, seedling, and use of herbicides were the main factors determining technical efficiency while age, experience, household size and contact with extension agent were the main determinants of the technical inefficiency of yam farmers. The mean technical efficiency was 0.636 which means that 36.4% of the technical output was not achieved. The result also indicates that land size, fertilizer, seedling, and herbicides are significant in yam production. And a significant relationship between age, household size, extension contact and years of experience and the output of the yam producers as it influences their technical efficiencies. The study concludes that land size, fertilizer, seedling, and use of herbicides were the main factors determining technical efficiency while age, experience, household size and contact with extension agent were the main the main determinants of inefficiency and thus recommends youths be encouraged to form cooperative organization and into yam production with attractive incentives like easy access to farm inputs, cooperate financing, easy exposure to markets.