Determinants of technical efficiency in traditional agricultural production: application of stochastic frontier modelling to food crop farmers in South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

The major objective of this study was to analyse the determinants of technical efficiency of food crop farmers in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. The data were based on 461 small scale farmers who cultivated cassava, maize, rice and multiple crops selected from Southwestern states of Nigeria. Results of analysis indicated that technical efficiency of the farmers varied widely across farms and across states. The results indicate that level of education, year of farming experience, extension visit, fertilizer use, land ownership, as well as membership of farmers' cooperative societies positively and significantly influenced the level of technical efficiency of the farmers. African Journal of Economic Policy Vol. 10(2) 2003: 31-56