Socio-economic characteristics and allocative efficiency of upland rice farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

The paper analysed the relationship between allocative efficiency and a set of socio-economic variables. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 165 rice farmers from six local government areas (LGAs) from the 10 rice-producing LGAs in Ogun State. The paper considered a Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier cost function applied to farm-level data of upland rice farmers in Ogun State to empirically determine the level of allocative inefficiency, using a single-stage model. The theoretical model predicts a positive relationship among cost of production, capital and output of paddy rice. The study showed a positive and significant relationship between allocative efficiency and farmers’ age, access to technical assistance and extension services. Policy measures aimed at increasing rice farmers’ access to technical assistance and extension services will go a long way toward boosting rice production in the study area

Access to Land and Food Security: Analysis of ‘Priority Crops’ Production in Ogun State, Nigeria

Using Ogun State located in south-western Nigeria, this chapter draws attention to the increase in output productivity of priority crops in the State from 2003 to 2015 due to the acquisitions of over 47,334 hectares of agricultural land across 28 communities in different Local Government Areas (LGAs). From Ogun State Agriculture Data, eight priority crops are analyzed: cassava, maize, rice, melon, yam, cocoyam, potato and cowpea. Statistics reveal that the cultivation of cassava gives the highest average output of 4,515,620 metric tonnes and yield per hectare of 16.41 relative to other produce which affirms that Ogun State has the most comparative advantage in the cultivation of cassava followed by maize. The chapter further explores other pro-poor programmes directed at ensuring food security in the State

Technical efficiency and costs of production among plantain farmers in Oyo state, Nigeria.

The paper investigated the cost of plantain production with a view to understanding the functional relationship between cost of production and technical efficiency of the plantain farmers as well as some socioeconomic variables. The data used for this study were collected from a sample survey in Ibadan area of Oyo State in the humid forest zone of Nigeria. The survey covered two local government areas and six villages. Stochastic frontier and cost function were fitted to the dataset. The results revealed that plantain production was profitable in the study area. The results further showed that the farmers were fairly efficient in their use of resources and that greater reductions in cost can be achieved through efficiency improvements. The study concluded that improvements in the efficiency levels of farmers appear to be one clear way to improve plantain productivity. Keywords: Plantain; Stochastic frontier; Technical efficiency; Cost of production; NigeriaMoor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 7 (1&2) 2006 pp. 107-11

Technical efficiency and management factors in plantain production in humid forest zone of Nigeria: A simulation analysis

The paper investigated the effect of changing some management factors on technical efficiency in plantain production with a view to understanding the functional relationship between technical efficiency and agricultural productivity. Data were r collected from a cross-sectional survey of two local government areas and six villages in Ibadan area of Oyo State in the humid forest zone of Nigeria. Stochastic frontier and multiple regression models were fitted and a simulation analysis was carried out on the management levels of plantain farmers. The results revealed that educational level alone did not significantly influence technical efficiency but its combination with extension assistance significantly influenced technical efficiency in the study area. Periodic extension assistance received significantly influenced technical efficiency