Abstract
The study measured the level of technical efficiency and among determinants in broiler farmers in Enugu urban of Enugu State, Nigeria using stochastic frontier production function. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 broiler farmers from which data were collected using well-structured questionnaire and oral interview. The estimated technical efficiency of urban broiler farmers ranged between 88.0% and 98.0% with a mean of 95.0%. The educational level, farming experience, access to credit, extension contact and membership of cooperative society were the determinants of technical efficiency of urban broiler farmer. Improving farmers’ access to education, credits, among others, would enhance farmers’ technical efficiency for the sustainability of urban broiler production.
Highlights
In most developing countries, agriculture was primarily a rural based activity
The study was conducted in Enugu urban in Enugu State, Nigeria
Enugu State is inhabited by people from various tribes and races within and outside Nigeria including, public/civil servants, businessmen and women, company workers, farmers, artisans and petty traders
Summary
Agriculture was primarily a rural based activity. But, because of growing demand for food and job, compelled many urban dwellers to embark on urban farming to satisfy their food demands and provide income to better their welfare (Umo, 2005). Urban agriculture in Nigeria, World Bank (1990) was reinforced by the aftermath of structural adjustment programme, including rise in food prices, unemployment and inflation which declined the average real income of both urban and rural dwellers. In Nigeria, poultry accounts for about 30.28% of the total livestock production. A host of factors may explain why broiler is endeared to both the producers and consumers, such as superefficient converter of feed to meat, large number of birds requiring small space (Eleke, 2005), marketable at different ages (Agwu and Duru, 2010), ease of operation, gives quickest turnover, the meat is palatable, digestible and low production cost per unit relative to other livestock (Ojo, 2004)
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