APPLICATION OF DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS (DEA) TO SMALL-SCALE SORGHUM PRODUCERS IN YOBE STATE, NORTH-EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the efficiency of small-scale sorghum production in Karasuwa Local Government area of Yobe State. North East, Nigeria. Using primary data of 2020 rainy season, the research employed a multi-stage random sampling procedure and selected 120 respondents from four sorghum-growing villages (Bukarti, Ga sma, Jaji-Maji, and Karasuwa) of the local government. The efficiency of producers, their socioeconomics profile and constraints associated with sorghum production were estimated using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), and Descriptive Statistics. The results of the DEA indicated that, 15% and 62% of the total farmers in the study area were found to be efficient under constant returns to scale assumptions respectively. Similarly, 81 and 12 DMUs operated on increasing and constant Returns to Scale respectively. Besides, a total of 73.4% and 80.8% with respect to Technical and Pure Technical efficiency scores had between 0.6 and 1.00 scale scores indicating that farmers in the study area make use of optimal resources to maximize profit. Major constraints identified include; inadequate capital, high cost of inputs and lack of credit facilities. The study therefore recommends provision of adequate credit facilities to farmers, subsidies on farm inputs, high yielding varieties and other policy intervention that would improve productivity per hectare.