Estimation of farm level technical efficiency and its determinants among male and female sweet potato farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

With the difficulties encountered by the farmers in adopting improved technologies, increasing resource use efficiency has become a very significant factor in increasing productivity. Therefore, this study was designed to estimate the farm level technical efficiency and its determinants among male and female sweet potato farmers. Primary data collected from a random sample of 120 sweet potato farmers (64 females and 56 males) were subjected to production function analysis. The result showed that fertilizer and farm size positively affected output for both farmer groups. Labour and capital positively affected output for the females while quantity of sweet potato vine affected the output of the male farmers positively. The mean technical efficiency for the female farmers was higher (92%) than that of their male (85%) counterparts. Farming experience and access to credit were positive and significantly related to technical efficiency for both farmer groups, while no significant relationship was found between technical efficiency and level of education, co‐operative membership and age for both farmer groups. Therefore, policies for improving farmers’ access to credit, land and extension contact would enhance efficiency and productivity.

Keywords: male and female farmers, sweet potato, technical efficiency

Ethiopian Journal of Economics vol 20 (1) 2011