Abstract
This study examined Sweet Potato (SwP) production efficiency in Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 93 SwP farms in February, 2016. Data on farm and farmers’ characteristics, input and output quantities and prices, constraints to SwP production among others were collected using pre-tested, well-structured questionnaire. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Tobit regression. The results of the analysis revealed that the mean Technical Efficiency (TE), Allocative Efficiency (AE), Economic Efficiency (EE) under Constant Return to Scale (CRS) assumption were 0.685, 0.445 and 0.301 respectively. On the other hand, the TE, AE and EE under Variable Return to Scale (VRS) assumption were 0.783, 0.604 and 0.467 respectively. The Scale Efficiency (SE) was found to be 0.877. The results indicate that access to credit increased TE of farms by 3.5%. Regular training of SwP farmers increased their AE by 10.5% and EE by 16.6%. Access to credit by farmers decreased SE of farms under CRS and VRS by 1.9% respectively. Labour shortage, poor access to improved technology and infestation by insect pests were the three most important constraints limiting SwP production in the study area. Therefore, improving the efficiency of SwP production will require policies that will see to regular training of farmers by extension agents and other stakeholders and enhancement of rural farmers’ access to credit.
Highlights
Nigeria is an agrarian country, its economic growth and development heavily relies on the functioning of the agricultural sector of which the crop sub-sector plays a vital role
The results showed that the mean Sweet Potato (SwP) output in the study area stood at 3.93 tonnes/hectare, while the average farm land cultivated was found to be 1.69 hectares
The results of the analysis of efficiency of sweet potato farms revealed that the farms were not efficient in the use of resources
Summary
Nigeria is an agrarian country, its economic growth and development heavily relies on the functioning of the agricultural sector of which the crop sub-sector plays a vital role. Agricultural sector contributed 22% to the nation’s GDP, while the crop sub-sector’s contribution stood at 20% in 2014 [1]. About 36.4% of the work force in the country is directly employed by the sector. The crop sub-sector involves the production of cash and food crops, notable among the food crops are cereals, legumes, root and tubers. Some of the root and tuber crops been cultivated by farmers in the country include: Cassava, yam and sweet potato. The total production was put at 3.92 metric tonnes with about 2% increase compare to 2013, but has the potential yield estimated at 7 metric tonnes [1]
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