Post-harvest production efficiency and output elasticity in cassava processing activities in rivers state

Abstract

While productivity may consider the quantity of output that emerges from a production process. Output elasticity measures the percentage change (response of output to input use) in output resulting from a given percentage change in input. Using the Cobb-Douglas production function, the responsiveness of the outputs of Garri and Fufu to labour in man-days and capital investment was analysed. Regression analysis was used to investigate how the outputs that emerged relates to the quantity of labour input employed.The study showed that in some agricultural zones in Rivers State and, in some products, there were negative response. A negative response to input use is an indication or suggests allocation inefficiency. Output efficiency measurement is very important in agricultural production in a profit oriented enterprise. Efficiency in cassava processing may be a function of several variables including volume of credit and processing technology in use. In the two variables studied, α+β were less than one, suggesting a decreasing return to scale generally.

Keywords: Elasticity, input, output, efficiency, response.