Resource-Use Efficiency in Rice Production Under Small Scale Irrigation in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State

Abstract

The study was conducted in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State to appraise the efficiency of the resources used in rice production under small scale irrigation. The specific objectives of the study were to determine resource use efficiency, describe socio-economic characteristics of irrigated rice growers and identify constraints to irrigated rice production among respondents. Data were collected using purposive simple random Sampling techniques involving three villages and sixty rice farmers. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and production function analysis. Data were fitted to two functional forms based on the OLS techniques. The Cobb-Douglas (power function) production function gave the best fit in terms of R2 value and number of significant variables. The results revealed that 90.0% of the variation in dependent variable is explained by the independent variables. All the co-efficient carried positive signs. The result revealed that fertilizer, labour and land were being used inefficiently hence below optimum economic level. This was attested by the high ratios (greater than unity) of MVP/MFC of all the variables. For optimum resource allocation to fertilizer, labour and land about 85.7%, 83.3% and 69% increase in MVP is required respectively. The estimated elasticity of production summed up to 0.815 meaning decreasing return to scale. Major problems include lack of adequate fertilizer, capital and access to land. Agricultural Policies should be directed toward provision of farming input such as fertilizer and effective extension services for efficient resources utilization.