TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF YAM PRODUCTION IN PAIKORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined technical efficiency of yam farmers in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria was analyzed using the stochastic frontier production model. Data were collected from 90 yam farmers selected using simple random sampling technique. The data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and oral interview were analyzed using Descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier production function. The maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) of the stochastic frontier model production function revealed that the inputs were under-utilized the results of the socio-economic characteristics shows that yam farmers was dominated 50% by male farmers, within the range of 46- 55 years, 47% of the farmers had farm size less-than 1 hectare with at least 10 years’ experience. The technical efficiency of farmers differs substantially among the respondents, ranging between 0.325 and 0.952 with a mean economic efficiency of 0.807.