Abstract
Producers strive to reduce cost and improve profit. An investigation of factors affecting producer performance was undertaken using measures of profit/profit margin as indicators of performance. A stochastic frontier approach was used to examine profit efficiency of small-scale dry season fluted pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis L.) producers in Nigeria using farm-level survey data collected from 100 respondents. Gross margin analysis indicated that average gross margin per farmer was 21,252; 156 is equal to US$1. Economic efficiency averaged 0.925. Stochastic frontier model analysis indicated that farm size and labor were significant factors contributing to the economic efficiency of producers. Years of experience and farm size contributed significantly to the explanation of inefficiency levels of fluted pumpkin farmers. Household size reduced efficiency. It is necessary to ease difficulties associated with land acquisition so that producer efficiency can be improved.
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