Economic Efficiency of Small-Holder Cocoyam Farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria: A Translog Stochastic Frontier Cost Function Approach

This study employed a translog stochastic frontier cost function to measure the level of economic efficiency and it’s determinants in small-holder cocoyam production in Anambra state, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers in the state in 2005 from whom input-output data and their prices were obtained using the cost-route approach. The parameters of the stochastic frontier cost function were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. The results of the analysis show that individual farm level technical efficiency was about 59%. The study found age, education and farm size, to be negatively and highly significantly related to economic efficiency at 1.0% while fertilizer use and farmer experience were significant and directly related to economic efficiency at 1.0% and 5.0% levels of probability respectively. No significant relationship was found between economic efficiency and extension visit, family size, credit access and membership of cooperative societies.Translog Stochastic Frontier Cost Function and Economic Efficiency.

Allocative Efficiency of Small-Holder Cocoyam Farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria

This study employed a stochastic frontier translog cost and production functions to measure the level of allocative efficiency and it’s determinants in small-holder cocoyam production in Anambra state, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers in the state in 2005 from whom input-output data and their prices were obtained using the cost-route approach. The parameters of the stochastic frontier cost function were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. The result of the analysis shows that individual farm level allocative efficiency was about 65%. The study found age and education to be negatively and significantly related to allocative efficiency at 1.0%. Farm size coefficient also had a negative relationship with allocative efficiency and was significant at 5.0%. Fertilizer use and credit access was significant and directly related to allocative efficiency at 5.0% as well as farm experience at 10.0% level of probability. No significant relationship was found between allocative efficiency and extension visit, family size and membership of cooperative societies.Translog Stochastic Frontier Production Function, Technical Efficiency, Economic Efficiency and Allocative Efficiency

Cost Return Analysis of Cocoyam Production at NRCRI, Umudike

A cost return analysis of cocoyam production at the National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike showed that the enterprise is profitable. Labour constituted about 50% of total variable cost of production, which is the most important resource in cocoyam enterprise. A hectare cost of cocoyam production was N140, 114 while total revenue was N257, 400 and net return was N117, 286. The study showed that small-holder cocoyam enterprise is profitable by returning N1.27 for every N1.00 spent.Cost Returns and Cocoyam

Technical Efficiency of Small Holder Cocoyam Production in Anambra State,Nigeria: A Cobb-Douglas Stochastic Frontier Production Approach

This study employed a Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function to measure the level of technical efficiency and its determinants in small-holder cocoyam production in Anambra state, Nigeria. A Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers in the state in 2005 from whom input-output data were obtained using the cost-route approach. The parameters of the stochastic frontier production function were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. The study found farm size, labour and fertilizer to be positively and significantly related to output at 5% level of significance. Socio economic determinants influencing technical efficiency directly were farming experiences and credit access at 5% level of significance. Age and farm size were negatively and significantly related to technical efficiency at 5% level of significance. The test of significance using ANOVA showed that there were significant differences in the technical efficiencies among zones.Cobb-Douglas Stochastic Frontier Production Function and Technical Efficiency.

Small is Beautiful: Empirical Evidence of an Inverse Relationship between Farm Size and Productive Efficiency in Small-Holder Cassava Production in Ideato North LGA of Imo State

This study examined the relationship between farm size and technical efficiency in small holder cassava production in Ideato LGA of Imo state using data from a 2008 farm-level survey of 90 rural households. The study showed a strong inverse relationship between farm size and technical efficiency. Smaller farms are found to be more technically efficient, than larger farms. These results favour land redistribution policies targeted towards giving lands to the small-holder farmers. Policies of de-emphasizing cassava production in the estate sector while encouraging it in smallholdings will foster equity and efficiency.Farm Size, Productivity and Technical Efficiency

Econometric Assessment of the Trend in Cocoyam Production in Nigeria, 1960/61-2003/2006

Stakeholders in agricultural development in Nigeria are currently confronted with the onerous task of feeding over hundred million people in the nation. The paper attempts to examine the trends in the production, area and productivity of cocoyam in Nigeria from 1960/61 to 2003/06 in two periods and highlights the relative contributions of area and productivity to the observed growth. Results reveal that output, area and productivity of cocoyam exhibited negative trends in Period I, (Pre-SAP, 1960/61-1984/85) whereas output and area of cocoyam showed positive trend in Period II (Post-SAP, 1985/86-2003/06). Increases in cocoyam production were due principally to the expansion of area under cultivation. Measures aimed at improving the yield and efficiency of resource utilization will enhance the prospect of cocoyam.Econometric Trend, Cocoyam

Determinants of Adoption of NRCRI Cocoyam Production Packages among Small-Holder Women Farmers in Enugu State

This study employed a log-linear model derived from the Semi-log functional form as the econometric model specified and the best fit for explaining adoption rate of NRCRI Cocoyam Production packages among women in the study area. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers (Females) in the state in 2008. The study found farm size and membership of cooperative society to be positively and significantly related to rate of adoption at 5.0% level of probability. Farming experience coefficient also had a positive relationship with rate of adoption and was significant at 1.0%. Household Size was significant and negatively related to rate of adoption rate at 10.0%. No significant relationship was found between adoption rate and marital status, age, education and extension contact. The results call for policies aimed at redistribution of land by making more land available to the women farmers, encouraging the experienced farmers for increased adoption of cocoyam packages and programmes through the cooperative societies, which will motivate farmers to invest in and increased adoption of these packages

Evaluation of yam-based production enterprises in Nigeria

This research investigated yam based production enterprise in Nigeria to identify the ideal farming system for yam. Data were extracted from 360 respondents in selected major yam-producing States in Nigeria. Data were analysed by the use of descriptive statistics and economic analysis. The result of this investigation reveals that yam production is profitable but it requires a large capital outlay. Yam production was more profitable that other comparable crops. There are infinite cropping systems for yam in Nigeria. All the dominant cropping systems for yam are profitable. Yam/maize intercropping system is the most profitable crop system for yam in Nigeria. The key recommendations from this research are increased investment in yam production; adoption of Yam/Maize intercropping system; and the development of an appropriate yam production technique that will reduce the cost of yam and make its production more profitable

Determinants of Adoption of NRCRI Cocoyam Production Packages among Small-Holder Women Farmers in Enugu State

This study employed a log-linear model derived from the Semi-log functional form as the econometric model specified and the best fit for explaining adoption rate of NRCRI Cocoyam Production packages among women in the study area. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers (Females) in the state in 2008. The study found farm size and membership of cooperative society to be positively and significantly related to rate of adoption at 5.0% level of probability. Farming experience coefficient also had a positive relationship with rate of adoption and was significant at 1.0%. Household Size was significant and negatively related to rate of adoption rate at 10.0%. No significant relationship was found between adoption rate and marital status, age, education and extension contact. The results call for policies aimed at redistribution of land by making more land available to the women farmers, encouraging the experienced farmers for increased adoption of cocoyam packages and programmes through the cooperative societies, which will motivate farmers to invest in and increased adoption of these packages

Cost Return Analysis of Cocoyam Production at NRCRI, Umudike

A cost return analysis of cocoyam production at the National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike showed that the enterprise is profitable. Labour constituted about 50% of total variable cost of production, which is the most important resource in cocoyam enterprise. A hectare cost of cocoyam production was N140, 114 while total revenue was N257, 400 and net return was N117, 286. The study showed that small-holder cocoyam enterprise is profitable by returning N1.27 for every N1.00 spent