Technical efficiency and technology gaps of sorghum plots in Uganda: A gendered stochastic metafrontier analysis

Philip Miriti,David Jakinda Otieno,Evans Chimoita,Edward Bikketi,Esther Njuguna,Chris O Ojiewo

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05845

Philip Miriti, David Jakinda Otieno + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05845

Copy DOI

Abstract

Sorghum plot managers in different locations have varying levels of resource endowment that in turn influence technical efficiency (TE). Therefore, plot managers operate at different levels of technology. The present study applied a stochastic metafrontier approach to assess TE and technology gaps of female, male and jointly-managed sorghum plots. A two limit-Tobit model was subsequently applied to assess determinants of TE. Results indicate that male-managed sorghum plots had the highest metafrontier technical efficiencies (MTEs) (61%, 56% and 15%) and technology gap ratios (TGRs) (98%, 92% and 20%) for Lira, Serere and Kumi districts, respectively compared to female and jointly managed plots. However, jointly managed plots had higher TE and TGRs compared to female plot managers but lower than those of the male-managed plots. Age, distance to plot and farmer group membership influenced TE positively while household size, years of farming sorghum and access to credit had negative effects on efficiency.

Highlights

Empirical analysis of farm technical efficiency (TE) gives useful insights on how farmers are utilizing the available inputs while technology gap ratios (TGRs) account for technology heterogeneity among producers (Battese and Rao, 2002)
The plot managers had low formal education; less than 6 years of schooling on average (Table 1). This indicates that sorghum plot managers only attained primary level education
The mean years of sorghum growing in the three study sites was over 7 years for all plot managers, with male plot managers having grown the crop for a longer period

Summary

Introduction

Empirical analysis of farm technical efficiency (TE) gives useful insights on how farmers are utilizing the available inputs while technology gap ratios (TGRs) account for technology heterogeneity among producers (Battese and Rao, 2002). Most studies have documented that female plot managers have lower TE and TGRs compared to their male counterparts (see for example, Tesfaye et al, 2015; Sell et al, 2018; Danso-Abbeam et al, 2020). Other studies such as Simonyan et al (2015) show contrary results. The differences have often been linked to constraints that female farmers encounter in accessing and utilizing farm inputs (Gomez et al, 2020). Doss (2018) noted that in situations where differences in access to inputs is controlled for, female farmers are as productive as their male counterparts

Methods

Results

Conclusion