Technical Efficiency Of Small-Holder Cocoyam Farmers In Anambra State, Nigeria: A Translog Stochastic Frontier Production Function Approach

Abstract

This study employed a translog stochastic frontier production function to measure the level of technical efficiency and it's determinants in small-holder cocoyam production in Anambra state, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers in the state in 2005 from whom input-output data were obtained using the cost-route approach. The parameters of the stochastic frontier production function were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. The result of the analysis shows that individual farm level technical efficiency was about 93%. The study found farm size, use of fertilizer and membership of farmers' association/cooperative societies to be positively and significantly related to technical efficiency at 5% while no significant relationship was found between technical efficiency and age, education, farming experience, extension contact, household sizes and credit.

Keywords: Translog Stochastic Frontier, Production Function and Technical Efficiency.

> International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 9 2007: pp. 1-6