TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SOLE COWPEA PRODUCTION IN ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study determined the technical efficiency of sole cowpea production in Northern Agricultural Zone of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 180 sole cowpea producers selected by a multi-stage random sampling procedure, using structured questionnaire.  The Data was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that, males dominated (81.11%) cowpea production in the area. The average age of the respondents was 46.52 and are mostly married with average family size of 8 persons. Also 88.33% used their personal savings to finance cowpea production and about. Farm size, family labour, hired labour and agro-chemicals were significantly related with cowpea output at 1% and 5% levels. Farming experience, extension contact, family size and credit availability enhance the efficiency of the respondents. Substantial variation existed in the TE indices of farmers with mean technical efficiency (TE) of 0.80 and minimum and maximum indices of 0.43 and 0.97, respectively. Farmers in the study area were relatively efficient in the production of sole cowpea. Inputs such as agrochemicals, farm land, improved seeds, labour as well as credit should be made available to farmers timely and at subsidized rates by government and non-governmental organizations.