Comparative analysis of resource use efficiency in maize production involving local and improved varieties in Zamfara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the comparative analysis of resources-use efficiency in maize production using local and improved varieties in Zamfara State. Seven Local Government Areas were purposively selected for the study. Two Districts were randomly selected from each of the seven Local Government Areas. Two Villages were also randomly selected from each of the two districts in a Local Government Area. Through the use of simple random sampling ten farmers (five each for local and improved maize varieties) were selected from each of the villages and this gave a total of 280 farmers as the sample size. Data collected by the use of structured questionnaire were analyzed using regression. The results showed a positive and significant (P<0.05) relationship between plot size, quantity of fertilizer applied and yield of improved maize. Increase in the quantity of seed (0.425) and fertilizer (0.374) led to significant increase in yield at 5% and 1% levels respectively for local maize production. The ratio of marginal value product (MVP) of farm size to the marginal factor cost (MFC) was less than unity for local maize varieties. The quantity of seed and quantity of fertilizer had ratio greater than unity in the local maize varieties' production. The ratio of marginal value product (MVP) of plot size, quantity of seeds and quantity of fertilizer to the marginal factor cost (MFC) were greater than unity.