Analyses of resource use, productivity and technical efficiency among local rice farmers in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the effect of resource use on productivity and technical efficiency of rice farmers in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using well-structured questionnaire from 40 rice farmers randomly selected. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, means and percentages and econometric models such as regression, stochastic frontier and instrumental variable estimator were adopted for data analyses using STATA 13.0. Rice production in this study area is commercialized with about 50% of farmers cultivating 2.2hectares of land. The ordinary least squares regression (OLS) estimates found household size to be significant and negatively related to yield of rice at 1% and training and mandays used for planting at 5% level each. Conversely, number of times trained in rice production and use of fertilizer in production were all significant and positively related to the yield of rice in the study area at I%, level each and land ownership at 5% level. MLE result further revealed that while farmers are 65% technically efficient in use of input resources, the estimated value of γ is 0.796934 which clearly indicates that 79.69% of total variation rice yield is due to technical inefficiency. Government need to discover the synergies between credit/fertilizer supply and farmers and develop an efficient and on-time distribution channels for farm inputs to allow farmers attain their productive potential in rice farming and in addition, identify the potentials of farmer clusters for market development for their produce to generate increased income for their production. Training is a critical factor influencing output and thus calls for increased capacity building among farmers in rice production to help them cope with exogenous elements such as changing weather conditions.Keywords: Technical efficiency, Stochastic frontier, Output and Rice farmer

Evaluation of Second National Fadama Development Project in Nigeria: A Rapid Policy Appraisal

The Second National Fadama Development Project was borne out of the need to ensure all year round agricultural production using available Fadama resources in Nigeria and also a follow – up to Fadama 1 that was adjudged successful. Its approach was Community Driven Development (CDD) with emphasis on social inclusiveness and empowerment of the rural people to take charge of their development agenda. The Project focused on increasing sustainably the incomes of Fadama Users via empowerment in terms of capacity building, advisory services, acquisition of productive assets and rural infrastructure development. As at mid – term, beneficiaries have increased their income by about 25%. So far, an estimated 2.3 million Fadama households have benefited from the expansion in incomes and wealth (asset) derived from the previously unavailable services provided by the project. The project had created about 126, 000 permanent jobs and an additional savings of more than $40.8 million have been realized by the majority of the participating states

Evaluation of Second National Fadama Development Project in Nigeria: A Rapid Policy Appraisal

The Second National Fadama Development Project was borne out of the need to ensure all year round agricultural production using available Fadama resources in Nigeria and also a follow – up to Fadama 1 that was adjudged successful. Its approach was Community Driven Development (CDD) with emphasis on social inclusiveness and empowerment of the rural people to take charge of their development agenda. The Project focused on increasing sustainably the incomes of Fadama Users via empowerment in terms of capacity building, advisory services, acquisition of productive assets and rural infrastructure development. As at mid – term, beneficiaries have increased their income by about 25%. So far, an estimated 2.3 million Fadama households have benefited from the expansion in incomes and wealth (asset) derived from the previously unavailable services provided by the project. The project had created about 126, 000 permanent jobs and an additional savings of more than $40.8 million have been realized by the majority of the participating states