Resource use efficiency in sole sorghum production in three villages of Kaduna State Nigeria

Abstract

In explaining the differences in the efficiency of farms, it is necessary to look into the use of resources to show the close links existing between the performance attained from resources on individual farms and efficient allocation of resources between farms of different sizes. This study estimates the productivity of farm resources on small and large scale farms in three villages of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Production data were collected using a structure questionnaire from a representative sample of 78 sorghum farmers. The study used the double log production function to determine the relationship between farm resources and the efficiency of resource use. Empirical results showed that seed, fertilizer and labour inputs are statistically significant in explaining the variation in sorghum output in the study area. However the estimates of the ratio of the marginal value productivities (MVP) and marginal factor cost (MFC), point clearly to the non optimal combination of inputs among the farmers, it showed that the farm resources were inefficiently utilized for sole sorghum production by small and large scale farmers, hence, the need for resource adjustment. Implications for regional and national food policies are discussed