Efficiency Of Rice Production Research Articles

Participatory irrigation management, social capital, and efficiency in rice production. Understanding the linkage in the case of irrigated rice farms in Northern Thailand

Enforcement of rules to increase farmers' involvement in participatory irrigation management (PIM) has been ineffective given the non-exclusivity nature of surface irrigation. In this study, we investigated the interrelationship of the social capital's role in higher participation in PIM and the effects towards farmers' efficiency using the case of rice farmers in Northern Thailand. We found that higher intention to participate in PIM collective activities is largely driven by the water user's social capital endowments. Farmers' efficiency level is positively associated with PIM participation and the condition of the collective irrigation management. Our findings suggest the importance of complementing current government efforts with policy interventions focusing on strengthening water user groups' social capital, such as improving group cohesion and their capacity for networking in compensating for various impediments faced by farmers.

Assessing the Influence of Soil Physical Properties on the Puddling Quality: A Comprehensive Review

Puddling is a crucial step in rice cultivation, extensively practiced by farmers in Asia for its role in softening soil, aiding in transplanting, and enhancing water and nutrient management. However, the alteration of soil properties by puddling raises concerns about its long-term sustainability. This comprehensive review systematically examines the impact of puddling on soil parameters such as soil texture, bulk density, penetration resistance, hydraulic conductivity, puddling index, and percolation rate. By synthesizing existing literature, the review aims to inform sustainable agricultural practices and effective soil management strategies amidst escalating global concerns. The complexities of puddling's influence on soil structure underscore the need to consider variables like soil texture and aggregate stability. Sustainable practices such as organic manure application offer potential solutions to address puddling-induced compaction, thereby enhancing soil quality and rice production efficiency. Optimizing tillage methods and improving hydraulic conductivity are essential components of effective soil management strategies for sustainable rice cultivation. Additionally, assessing puddling quality through indices like the puddling index and optimizing percolation rates are vital steps toward improving water management and overall productivity in rice farming.

Environmental Efficiency of Monsoon Rice (Oryza sativa) Production between Transplanting and Broadcasting Sowing Methods in Myanmar

Introduction Myanmar relies on rice for its food security and economic significance, ranking seventh in the world for rice exports as of 2021. The most significant concern in rice production is exceeding the recommended nitrogen (N) fertilizer usage rate. Nitrogen is a crucial fertilizer for rice production, but it poses negative environmental consequences, such as nitrous oxide emissions. Therefore, this study intended to assess the technical (TE) and environmental efficiency (EE) of monsoon rice production in Myanmar and compare the efficiencies of broadcasting (BC) and transplanting (TP) sowing methods. Methods A translog stochastic frontier production function approach estimated the output-oriented technical efficiency and environmental efficiency of monsoon rice production. The study conducted face-to-face interviews with 317 farmers in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, Myanmar. Results The overall mean TE and EE were 81% and 23%, respectively. The average TE and EE for N fertilizer were 84% and 35% using the TP method and 80% and 20% using the BC method, respectively. Conclusion Our findings confirmed that the TP method was technically and environmentally superior to the BC method. The adoption of the TP method should be promoted by highlighting its positive impacts on achieving sustainable monsoon rice production in Myanmar.

The Impact of Changes in Rural Family Structure on Agricultural Productivity and Efficiency: Evidence from Rice Farmers in China

Over the past three decades, China has shifted from a relatively immobile society to one where rural migrant workers are dispersed throughout urban areas, resulting in significant changes in rural family structure. Previous studies have tended to approach migrant workers as homogeneous groups within families. In contrast, our attention turns to the diversity among individuals and the complex interactions within families. Based on a survey of rice farmers in five provinces of China, this study aims to explore the heterogeneous impact of changes in rural family structure on the single-factor (i.e., land, labor, and capital) productivity and technical efficiency (TE) of rice production. Methodologically, we calculated the productivity indicator through the Cobb–Douglas production function. Following this, a one-step stochastic frontier approach (SFA) was employed to assess the production frontier and estimate inefficiency. To address self-selection bias in family migration behavior, we applied the propensity score matching method (PSM). The results reveal that significant outcomes are observed only with certain types of changes in rural family structure. The production decisions of rural families are influenced by the migration regions of their family members. Compared to non-migrating families (NM), families with couples’ joint migration outside the province show higher single-factor productivity and TE. We used multiple approaches to examine the results and came to similar conclusions. Therefore, enhancing social security measures and employment opportunities for migrant workers, with specific attention to supporting migrant couples, can have a positive impact on sustainable urban and rural development, as well as food security.

Application and Management of Nitrogenous Fertilizer in Rice Field: A Review

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most significant cereal in the world. Globally, the top rice producing country is China, while India is the world’s second largest producer and the largest exporter of rice in the world. It covers one-third of the total cultivated area in India as it is one of the major staple food crops. The application of nitrogenous fertilizer in crop production system is an important aspect of modern crop management practices and one of the determining factors to increase crop yield and thereby keeping pace with the expanding human population. Rice production can be increased by the application of nitrogenous fertilizer whether organic or inorganic at an appropriate time and place. The fertilizer should be applied in multiple split doses depending on the soil’s nutritional status, crop demand and the sources of nutrients. However, most of the nitrogenous fertilizer applied to rice fields is not taken up by rice plants but instead lost to the environment as ammonia, nitrate and nitrous oxide. The ‘reactive N’ also known as fixed N has a negative impact on human health as well as causes serious environmental problems. Surface runoff, denitrification, ammonium volatilization and leaching should all be managed in order to reduce the nitrogen loss from rice fields. Sustainable and environmentally friendly fertilizer management techniques raise the crop yields and enhance the sustainable soil fertility status. So it is necessary to implement management practices in order to reduce nitrogen losses and increase the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in rice production.

Assessing the economic and energy use efficiencies of hybrid and inbred rice varieties through omission-plot technique in Lamjung, Nepal

Agricultural productivity relies upon energy input in the form of improved seeds, fertilizers, chemicals, irrigation and mechanization including management practices. This energy input is crucial for enhancing crop yields and meeting the demands of an ever-growing population. The increasing demand for rice production from an ever-increasing population and the dwindling nature of natural resources as a result of their continuous and excessive use underscore the urgency of studying energy use efficiency and sustainability in rice production. By conducting this experiment, the goal was to assess the yields, economics, and energy use efficiencies in rice. The experiment employed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, comprising ten treatment combinations viz. US-312 + 60:30:20 kg NPK ha−1, US-312 + 0:30:20 kg NPK ha−1, US-312 + 60:0:20 kg NPK ha−1, US-312 + 60:30:0 kg NPK ha−1, US-312 + 0:0:0 kg NPK ha−1, Sukhadhan-2+60:30:20 kg NPK ha−1, Sukhadhan-2+0:30:20 kg NPK ha−1, Sukhadhan-2+60:0:20 kg NPK ha−1, Sukhadhan-2+60:30:0 kg NPK ha−1, Sukhadhan-2+ 0:0:0 kg NPK ha−1. Results revealed that the highest grain yield and yield attributes were obtained from US-312 + 60:30:20 kg NPK ha−1 (4.98 t ha−1) followed by US-312 + 60:30:0 kg NPK ha−1 (4.76 t ha−1), and US-312 + 60:0:20 kg NPK ha−1 (4.54 t ha−1). The highest energy use efficiency of 3.95 was observed under US-312 + 60:30:0 kg NPK ha−1 which was supported by the highest output energy obtained from grain and biomass yield (153 GJ ha−1) and the highest net energy (117 GJ ha−1). The benefit-cost ratio was found highest in US-312 + 60:30:20 kg NPK ha−1 (1.98), signifying its economic viability and potential profitability. In the context of the western mid-hills of Nepal, the rice variety US-312, coupled with a nutrient composition of 60:30:20 kg NPK ha−1 proved to be an optimal selection. This combination demonstrated higher grain yields and noteworthy economic efficiency.

Agricultural socialized services empowering smallholder rice producers to achieve high technical efficiency: empirical evidence from southern China

IntroductionThis study emphasizes the importance of agricultural efficiency for food security and income generation, especially among smallholder rice farmers in southern China. Limited access to essential agricultural services hinders productivity in this region. The study highlights the significant potential of agricultural socialized services (ASS) in improving the technical efficiency of smallholder rice production.MethodsTo analyze the impact of ASS on technical efficiency in rice production, we focused on tillage, transplanting, crop protection, and harvest operations. We employed stochastic frontier analysis and collected data from smallholder farmers in Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces. By estimating the technical efficiency of rice production, we aimed to assess the relationship between ASS and smallholder farmers’ technical efficiency.Results and discussionThe results of our analysis revealed that ASS significantly enhance the technical efficiency of rice production among smallholder farmers by supporting agricultural practices such as transplanting, crop protection, and harvest operations. However, we found that the impact of ASS on tillage operations was not statistically significant. Participation in ASS enhances smallholders’ access to modern production techniques, resources, and knowledge, leading to improved technical efficiency. These services also empower smallholder rice producers to adopt sustainable farming practices, access credit, financing, and market information, and promote collective action and cooperation, ultimately influencing technical efficiency.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the potential of ASS in improving the technical efficiency of smallholder rice production in southern China. Policymakers and agricultural organizations can use these insights to design interventions that promote efficient practices, enhance productivity, support livelihoods, and ensure food security in the region.

Silicon Fertilizer Addition Can Improve Rice Yield and Lodging Traits under Reduced Nitrogen and Increased Density Conditions

Reducing nitrogen fertilizer application, selecting a reasonable planting density, and adding silicon fertilizer can be used together to decrease excessive nitrogen fertilizer inputs in rice fields, reduce production costs, and ensure stable rice yield. However, the dynamics of the stem and internodes, as well as the changes in the physical and physiological characteristics of rice under a combination of these three strategies, are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to clarify these effects to improve the efficiency of rice production in northeastern China. A 2-year field experiment was conducted using five treatments: a conventional densification treatment (DM), a densification combined with reduced N input (−20%) treatment (DLM), and three densifications combined with reduced N input (−20%) and basal silicon fertilizer treatments (low fertilizer: DLMS1; medium fertilizer: DLMS2; and high fertilizer: DLMS3). This study revealed that the addition of silicon fertilizer improved rice yield compared to that under reduced nitrogen or increased density treatments alone, prevented excessive ineffective tillering after a density increase, and increased the number of productive panicles. Among the treatments, the DLMS3 treatment had the highest yields of 10.53 t/ha and 10.73 t/ha over the 2 years. Reducing nitrogen and increasing density reduced the weight and length of single panicles, while the addition of silicon fertilizer was beneficial for improving stem toughness, improving the physical and physiological characteristics of the plants and panicles, and enhancing plant bending resistance. Among the treatments, DLMS3 had the highest bending resistance, which increased by 440.1 g and 503.8 g compared to the lowest values in the DM treatment in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Nitrogen reduction resulted in the lowest lodging index values, with DLMS3 having the lowest values in both years, which decreased by 19.6% and 22.5% compared to the highest values in DM (2020) and DLM (2021), respectively. This study indicates that the application of 150.0 kg/ha silicon fertilizer in combination with reduced nitrogen and increased density (DLMS3) reduces the lodging index while ensuring rice yield, preventing a tradeoff between yield reduction and lodging due to a density increase or due to nitrogen reduction combined with a density increase and allowing for a reduction in nitrogen fertilizer input, which could ensure a uniform yield and an increase in lodging resistance. These results provide a scientific basis for rice cultivation measures that lead to high yield and lodging resistance while protecting the environment.

Cropping system-based fertilizer strategies for crop productivity and soil health under minimum tillage in grey terrace soil

A cropping system that is based on three or four crops is currently a widely favored option for augmenting crop productivity to address the escalating global food demand. However, the improper fertilizer management and undue tillage adversely impacts both the productivity of crops and the fertility of the soil. A research investigation was conducted on tillage and nutrient management within the mustard-mungbean-Transplanting aus (T.aus)-Transplanting aman (T.aman) cropping system to examine the impact of fertilizer packages and tillage techniques on the overall productivity of cropping systems, as well as the condition of the soil in grey terrace soil. The research included tillage techniques viz; minimum tillage (MT), conventional tillage (CT) and deep tillage (DT); while nutrient management; NM1: 100 % STB (Soil test based) following FRG (Fertilizer Recommendation Guide-2018), all from chemical fertilizer, NM2: 125 % of STB following FRG- 2018, all from chemical fertilizer, NM3: 100 % STB (80 % from chemical fertilizers and 20 % from cowdung), and NM4: Native fertility (no fertilization). A total of twelve treatments replicated three times following the factorial completely randomized design for three consecutive seasonal years (2018–19, 2019–20, and 2020–21). MT outperformed DT and CT in terms of crop yield, rice equivalent yield (REY), system productivity (SP), and production efficiency (PE). Moreover, NM3 exhibited enhanced performance in terms of agricultural productivity measures. Field capacity (FC), soil organic matter (OM), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), and soil nutrients (N, P, K, S, Zn and B) observed an enhancement as a result of the implementation of tillage MT and nutrition package NM3. The investigation indicates that implementing minimum tillage (MT) coupled with an integrated plant nutrition system package (NM3) can assist in the improvement of soil and the enhancement of crop productivity.

Impact of agricultural credit sources heterogeneity on rice production efficiency in Côte d'Ivoire

PurposeThis study examines the impact of agricultural credit on rice farmers' technical efficiency (TE) in Côte d'Ivoire by considering the heterogeneity among credit sources.Design/methodology/approachA multistage sampling technique was used to collect data from 588 randomly sampled rice farmers in seven rice areas of the country. The authors use the endogenous stochastic frontier production (ESFP) model to account for the endogeneity of access to agricultural credit.FindingsOn the one hand, agricultural credit has a significant and positive impact on rice farmers' TE. Rice farmers receiving agricultural credit have an average of 5% increase in their TE, confirming the positive impact of agricultural credit on TE. On the other hand, the study provides evidence that the impact of credit on rice production efficiency differs depending on the source of credit. Borrowing from agricultural cooperatives and paddy rice buyers/processors positively and significantly influences the TE, while borrowing from microfinance institutions (MFIs) negatively and significantly influences the TE. Moreover, borrowing from relatives/friends does not significantly influence TE.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research can further explore the contribution of agricultural credit by including several agricultural productions and using panel data.Originality/valueThe study provides evidence that the impact of agricultural credit on agricultural production efficiency depends on the source of credit. This study contributes to the literature on the impact of agricultural credit and enlightens policymakers in the design of agricultural credit models in developing countries, particularly Côte d'Ivoire.

Productivity, nutrient indices and soil nutrient status of short grain aromatic rice-green gram system as influenced by integrated nutrient management strategies

New age challenges of irrational use of fertilizers under monocropping of rice calls for integrative nutrient management strategy along with establishment of rice based cropping system. A field study was carried out in 2017–18 and 2018–19 at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India to investigate the integrated nutrient management strategies on productivity, nutrient indices and soil nutrient status in short grain aromatic rice-green gram cropping system. The experiment was set up in split plot design with six nutrient management strategies in rice were taken in main plot in randomized block design and three nutrient management strategies in green gram were taken as sub plot in split-plot design in sequence. Results revealed that application of 50% NPK+ 50% Recommended Dose of Nitrogen (RDN)-FYM to rice followed by 75% NPK + Rhizobium + Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria to green gram recorded the highest rice equivalent yield and production efficiency in 2017–18 and 2018–19 followed by 50% NPK+ 50% RDN-FYM to rice followed by 100% NPK to green gram. Application of 50% NPK+ 50% RDN-FYM to rice and 75% NPK + Rhizobium + PSB to green gram recorded the highest partial factor productivity of nitrogen, nitrogen utilization efficiency and nitrogen uptake efficiency in the system. Soil nutrient status of the cropping system improved with balanced application of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients compared to mineral fertilizers only. Thus, supplementing FYM and sesbania as organic manures along with reduced dose of inorganic fertilizers improved sustainability of rice-green gram system along with improving soil fertility.

Improvement of Brinjal-T. Aman -Cabbage Cropping Pattern in Tangail Region

The experiment was conducted at the farmers’ field of FSRD site Deldwar, Tangail to evaluate the agro-economic performance of Okra-T.Aman-Cabbage cropping pattern against farmers’ existing pattern Brinjal-T.Aman rice-Cabbage through incorporation of high yielding varieties and improved management practices during 2018 to 2020. Two cropping pattern viz., Okra-T.Aman rice-Cabbage improved pattern and Brinjal-T.Aman rice-Cabbage farmers’ existing pattern were the treatments variables. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with five dispersed replications Mean data showed that the improved management practices for Okra-T.Aman rice-Cabbage cropping pattern provided higher rice equivalent yield (41.42 t ha-1), production efficiency (368 kg ha-1 day-1) and land utilization index (78 %) over farmers existing pattern Brinjal-T.Aman rice-Cabbage. Average gross return Tk. 667945 ha-1 and gross margin Tk. 452105 ha-1 of improved pattern were 24 and 33 % higher, respectively compared to that of farmers’ pattern with only 8 % extra cost. The marginal benefit cost ratio, land utilization index and production efficiency indicated the superiority of the improved pattern over the farmers’ practices.
 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 47(3): 323-232, September 2022

A Copula-Based Stochastic Frontier Analysis of Thai Jasmine Rice Production in the Northeast of Thailand

Thai jasmine rice holds immense economic significance both domestically and as a major export, making it a vital contributor to the Thai economy. Traditional and modern agricultural practices, centered around rice cultivation, play a pivotal role in the culture and economy of the Northeast region. However, concerns have arisen regarding rice production efficiency in recent times due to capital and labor availability challenges. Motivated by these concerns, this study employs a copula-based stochastic frontier modeling (copula-SFM) framework to investigate production efficiency empirically. The research is based on a sample of 384 farmers in the Northeast of Thailand. The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) is utilized to select the most appropriate model. The results indicate that the Gaussian copula-SFM outperforms other copula models. Notably, the study identifies total area, capital, and labor as critical factors significantly contributing to the positive impact on jasmine rice production. Furthermore, the research ranks provinces based on average technical efficiency (TE) scores, revealing Khon Kaen Province, Yasothon Province, and Roi Et Province as the top-performing regions.

Effect of water and nitrogen coupling on energy balance and production efficiency in rice production

This study evaluated the effects of water-nitrogen coupling on the energy balance and production efficiency of rice production in Hainan Province, a region of China with tropical climatic. Results showed that the effects of water and nitrogen fertilizer on the total energy output (Eo), net energy (NE), and energy production efficiency (EPE) of rice were coupled. The total energy input (Ei) for rice production increased with irrigation water and nitrogen fertilizer application. Rice production currently depends heavily on indirect and nonrenewable Eis. Diesel, machinery, and nitrogen fertilizer Eis accounted for more than 75 % of the total Eis for rice production. The highest total Eo and NE were observed in rice treated with F-N100 and AWD-N150, respectively. Except for the F-N150 treatment, the total Eo and NE of rice increased with nitrogen fertilizer application. Higher EPE was observed for rice treated with R-N100. In conclusion, the AWD-N150 treatment is suitable for rice production areas with good irrigation conditions, while the R-N100 treatment should be adopted as the preferred water and nitrogen management strategy in rice production areas with high rainfall. Furthermore, research on reducing Eis for irrigation, tillage, and nitrogen fertilizer application for rice production should be strengthened in the future.

Combining sub-surface fertigation with conservation agriculture in intensively irrigated rice under rice-wheat system can be an option for sustainably improving water and nitrogen use-efficiency

ContextThe rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of South Asia has been shown to have higher productivity. However, this benefit is offset by the unsustainable over-drafting of groundwater resources. Given the growing scarcity of water, it is imperative to investigate alternative crop establishment and irrigation methods that do not rely on the conventional puddled transplanting method (PTR). ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the impact of combining conservation agriculture-CA with sub-surface drip irrigation-SSD referred to as CA+, at different nitrogen (N) doses on physiological performance, crop yield, irrigation and nitrogen use-efficiency, as well as farm profitability of rice in the north-western IGP of India. MethodA two-year field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of medium-term CA and the combination of CA with SSD (CA+) at three levels of N (0%, 75%, and 100% of the recommended dose), in comparison to PTR using recommended dose of nitrogen-RDN (120 kg N ha-1). Indicators of crop growth (under CA, CA+), i.e., biomass, grain yield, water-use, water-use efficiency (WUE), nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE), and economic analysis of rice production were evaluated and compared with PTR. ResultThe results revealed that the PTR plots produced 15% and 11% higher grain yield than CA and CA+ systems, respectively, even at 100%RDN, due to a significantly higher number of fertile tillers. However, the application of 100%RDN and irrigation through SSD resulted in a significant increase in nitrogen uptake (4.5%) and remobilization (7.5%) into the grain compared to PTR. The CA+ plots demonstrated a reduction in irrigation water usage by 1.5 and 2 times compared to the CA and PTR systems, leading to a respective increase in WUE by 1.6% and 1.8%. PTR exhibited highest net returns, while the CA+ treatment– SSD-N100 achieved the highest benefit-cost ratio. ConclusionThe combination of CA with SSD at 100%RDN offers significant benefits, including notable water saving, improved WUE, NUE and crop yield. This integrated approach presents a promising solution to address the pressing issues of food security and sustainability arising from water scarcity and groundwater depletion in South Asia. Future implicationThere is a need to increase awareness among farmers about the benefits of CA coupled with SSD i.e., CA+ , for water-intensive rice-based systems. Additionally, further research should focus on identifying ideal rice cultivars suitable for CA+ systems and determining the optimal specifications for drip lines and emitter discharge rates for diverse water-scarce agro-ecological conditions.

The Impact of Natural Disasters and Pest Infestations on Technical Efficiency in Rice Production: A Study in Vietnam

This study examines the effects of natural disasters, such as typhoons, floods, droughts, and pest infestations, on the technical efficiency of rice production in Vietnam. Employing stochastic frontier analysis (SFA), the research estimates the technical efficiency in rice production of 2394 farmers from the 2018 Vietnam Access to Resources Household Survey (VARHS) dataset. The findings indicate that the average technical efficiency of rice production among these farmers is 78.99%. Exposure to natural disasters and pest infestations leads farmers to reduce their investments in rice production, resulting in decreased technical efficiency, lower yields, and reduced profitability. Among the various disasters, droughts have the most significant adverse impact on technical efficiency in rice production. The results highlight the limited capacity of farmers to cope with the challenges posed by natural disasters in rice production. The study emphasizes the importance of providing timely support to farmers, fostering resilience within the context of rice farming, and enhancing agricultural sustainability in Vietnam. To address these challenges effectively, policymakers are advised to prioritize facilitating farmers’ access to agricultural insurance. Additionally, encouraging income diversification among farmers becomes crucial to ensuring provisions in the case of income loss from rice production due to natural disasters or pest infestations. Moreover, measures such as promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, improving water management infrastructure, establishing early warning systems, and emphasizing pest and disease control measures can be implemented to mitigate losses resulting from natural disasters and pest infestations.

Analysis of Production Efficiency of Rice Seed Producers in Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatera, Indonesia

Analysis of Production Efficiency of Rice Seed Producers in Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatera, Indonesia

Crop and soil productivity of a rice‐green gram system under integrative nutrient management

AbstractA field study was conducted at the Instructional Farm, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, on exploring productivity and soil quality of aromatic rice‐green gram system by dual influence of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients. Among integrated nutrient management practices, 50% NPK + 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN)‐farm yard manure (FYM) to rice produced the highest grain yield (3875 kg ha−1) followed by 75% NPK+ green manure (GM; 3489 kg ha−1). Likewise, residual effect of 50% NPK + 50% RDN‐FYM to rice and application of 75% NPK+ Rhizobium+ phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) to green gram produced the highest seed yield of green gram (812 kg ha−1).Combined application of 50% NPK+ 50% RDN− FYM to rice and 75% NPK + Rhizobium+ PSB to green gram resulted in significantly (p = 0.05) higher system rice equivalent yield (6521 kg ha−1) and production efficiency (31.2 kg ha−1 day−1) while increasing the nutrient uptake of short grain aromatic rice‐green gram system. The highest PFPN (132.7 ± 12.4 kg kg−1) and nitrogen uptake efficiency (0.73 ± 0.06 kg kg−1) were also recorded due to the application of 50% NPK+ 50% RDN‐FYM to rice and 75% NPK + Rhizobium + PSB to green gram (99.0 ± 26.3 kg kg−1, 0.61 ± 0.01 kg kg−1, 1.32 ± 0.40, and 19.5 ± 2.9, respectively). Application of 75% NPK+ GM to rice and 75% NPK + Rhizobium + PSB to green gram significantly (p = 0.05) increased soil organic carbon, available N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu as well as microbial status of soil.

PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS OF UPLAND RICE PRODUCTION AMONG RESOURCE POOR FARMERS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA: A STOCHASTIC PROFIT EFFICIENCY FRONTIER APPROACH

This research work analyzed profitability of upland rice production among resource poor farmers in Kaduna State, Nigeria: A stochastic profit efficiency frontier approach. A Multi-stage sampling technique was employed. Data of primary sources were collected through the use of a well-designed and a well-structured questionnaire from 150 sampled rice farmers. The outcomes show that the mean age of the sampled rice farmers was 42 years. The average farm size cultivated by the rice farmers was 3.18 hectares which show that the rice farmers were small scale farmers. The gross margin obtained was N522,188.16/ha with the gross margin ratio of 0.564 and the operating ratio of 0.392 indicating that rice production was a profitable enterprise. The significant factors influencing profit efficiency of rice production were: fertilizer cost (P<0.01), cost of hired labour (P<0.01), cost of chemical and herbicide (P<0.01), seed cost (P<0.01), transportation cost P<0.01 and cost of land and machineries (P<0.05). The constraints facing farmers in the course of rice production were: lack of credit facilities, inadequate extension agents, bad road infrastructures, lack of farm inputs, high cost of fertilizers, and high cost of labour. The study recommends that rice farmers should be provided with farm inputs like: improved seeds varieties, fertilizers, and agro chemicals at a subsidized price in order to improve productivity and profit efficiency, farm machineries like tractors, and irrigation facilities for dry season rice farming should be made avialable by Nigerian government to rice farmers to encourage mechanized farming all year round to ensure there is food security in the country.

DETERMINANTS OF LEVEL OF ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF RICE PRODUCERS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined determinants and level of economic efficiency of rice production in Anambra State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: estimate the level of economic efficiency attained by rice farmers in the area; ascertain the determinants of level of economic efficiency attained by the farmers and assess the nature of returns to scale of rice production in the study area. Two hypotheses tested were: there is no significant difference between the levels of economic efficiency attained by farmers in the selected agricultural zones and socio-economic characteristics of the rice farmers do not significantly influence their economic efficiency level. Primary data were used for the study and Multistage, purposive and random sampling methods were used select 378 respondents. The collated data were analyzed by means of descriptive and inferential statistical tools such as Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, Cobb Douglas Stochastic Frontier Production function and Scheffe’s Multiple Comparison test. Findings indicated a minimum economic efficiency score of 0.86, maximum of 
 0.99 and mean of 0.95 for rice farmers in the study area. Scheffe’s Multiple Comparison test indicated significant difference between means of economic efficiency scores and per hectare profits of farmers from paired agricultural zones. Maximun Likelihood Estimation of the Cobb Douglas stochastic frontier production regression showed that the production factors of land, labour and other inputs significantly and positively influenced economic efficiency level of the farmers. Inefficiency effect was significantly and negatively affected by educational level and amount of credit obtained; significantly and positively affected by farming experience while extension visit and farm size were not significant. Returns to scale figures were 1.32, 1.25, 1.15 and 1.12 for Anambra, Aguata and Awka Agricultural zones, and the State (pooled data) respectively. This implies increasing returns to scale across the Agricultural zones and the study area. It is recommended that Government should ensure adequate budgetary allocations to the institutions responsible for making cheap loans available to farmers while the institutions should maintain timely disbursement of the funds.