Resource Use Efficiency in Rice Production in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried-out on resource use efficiency in rice production in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Data were obtained using structured questionnaire. Five (5) wards were purposely selected out of the twelve (12) wards to reflect areas where rice is mainly grown. A total of 100 respondents were proportionately selected from the five (5) wards for the analysis. Descriptive statistics and production function were used as analytical tools. The result indicates that majority (87%) were male, most (54%) had farm size less than 2 hectares. Also, majority (60%) indicated their major occupation as farming, most (51%) had no formal education while, (37%) had between 11–30 years of farming experience. The results of resource use efficiency in rice production showed that resources such as fertilizer, hired labour and rented land were under-utilized. The sum of elasticities of production indicates that there is increasing return to scale. It was recommended that farmers should be advised to increase use of rented land, improved rice seed, of fertilizer, hired and mechanized labours and chemicals. Farmers should also be encouraged to actively participate in adult education extension programme to acquire knowledge on how to use their farm resources efficiently in rice production.

Keywords: Resource, Efficiency, Rice, Borno State, Nigeria.