Technical efficiency of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to measure the level of technical efficiency, its determinants in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production and the constraints in the production system in Yewa North Local Government of Ogun State using a stochastic frontier production function. A combination of purposive and random sampling technique was used to select 80 watermelon farmers for the study. The socio-­‐economic characteristics show that the farmers are predominantly males, mostly (78.8%) married with majority (87.6%) having at least primary school education. The cost and return analysis shows a high net farm income per hectare of ₦25, 574.24. The estimated farm level mean technical efficiency was found to be 65 percent. This result indicates that great opportunities exist for the farmers to increase their productivity and income through improvement in technical efficiency. Age and off-­‐farm income were found to be positively and significantly related to the technical efficiency while education was negatively signed, as expected, but significant. Policies aimed at improving farmers’ access to education through aggressive awareness campaigns and mass mobilizations are recommended by the study.