Technical Efficiency of Cassava Female Farmers in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analyzed the technical efficiency of female cassava farmers in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The study specifically determined the technical efficiency of the respondents, examined the factors affecting technical efficiency and estimated the profitability of female cassava farmers in the study area. The study showed that majority of the female cassava were in their active year, most of the farmers were literate, most of the female cassava farmers were married, majority had 4 – 6 members, most of the female cassava farmers were experienced and they were small scale cassava farmers. The study also showed the variable representing farm size, agrochemical, herbicide, fertilizer, planting material and labour were found to be factors that significantly affect production. The result of the inefficiency model showed that the variables educational status and membership of farmer’s association were factors that significantly affect farmers’ inefficiency. The mean technical efficiency is 0.744 (or 74.4%). This implies that, on the average, the farmers were 74% technically efficient; hence their observed output was about 26% less than the maximum frontier output.The total variable cost, total fixed cost and the total cost were found to be ₦93,500.63, ₦40,806.25 and ₦134,306.88 respectively. Also the total revenue, gross margin and profit were found to be ₦462,373.50, ₦368,872.87 and ₦167,596.66 respectively. This indicates that cassava production is profitable in the study area.