Technical efficiency of small-scale production of date palm in Jigawa State

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyse the technical efficiency of small-scale date palm farmers in Jigawa state, Nigeria. A sample size of 113 small scale date palm farmers was selected for the study using random sampling technique. The technical efficiency for small- scale date palm production was determined using stochastic frontier production function. While age was identified as the major contributor to the technical inefficiency, the study however revealed the mean technical efficiency is 78% in small scale date palm production which implies a 22% potential for the least technically efficient small-scale date palm farmer to increase date palm production with the current level of resources and technology. It was concluded that small scale date palm production is technically efficient in the study area, although age is the major contributing factor of the technical inefficiency in date palm production.