Profitability analysis and technical efficiency of Sasakawa global 2000 maize technology in Lere Agricultural Zone, Kaduna state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study determined the profitability and technical efficiency of Sasakawa Global (SG-2000) maize technology in Lere Agricultural Zone, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A total of 146 respondents were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected through structured questionnaire administered to the sampled respondents and complemented with interview schedule. Analysis of the data collected was done using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting technique and stochastic frontier function. Results showed that the mean age of SG-2000 adopters was 45years old, 73% of them were males and 81% were married. The mean farming experience of the adopters was 15 years, household size of 8 persons and farm size of 2.26ha respectively. Also, majority of the farmers were members of farmers’ cooperative society and had access to extension services. The farm budgeting technique revealed maize production was profitable in the area with gross margin and net farm income of ₦99,407.76/ha and ₦96,700.80/ha respectively. The maize farmers were not technically efficient with a mean efficiency score of 0.8181. The farm size at p<0.10, seed at p<0.01, fertilizer at p<0.01, capital input at p<0.01 probability levels respectively were efficiency factors, while the sex of farmer at p<0.10, marital status at p<0.10, farming experience at p<0.05 and access to credit at p<0.01 probability levels respectively were the inefficiency factors. It is recommended that other farmers in the study area should adopt the SG-2000 maize technology to improve their level of profitability and technical efficiency.

Keywords: Profitability, Technical efficiency, SG-2000 maize technology, Farmers and Kaduna State