Abstract: The study examined the Resource use efficiency of maize production in Yewa North of Ogun State. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select one hundred twenty (120) maize farmers for the study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results revealed that maize farmers in the study area is dominated by males (85%) with mean age of 46 years. The inferential statistics employed the use of the stochastic frontier analysis to examine the determinants of output and measure the technical efficiency level of farmers while the marginal value product marginal factor cost approach was used to ascertain whether farmers are efficiently allocating their resources or not. The results from the stochastic frontier analysis indicated that Land, herbicides, labour and quantity of seeds exerted significant and positive effects on maize output whilst the insecticides allocated to maize cultivation had negative and significant effect on maize output. Maize farmers in the study area had a mean technical efficiency score of about 79% indicating an output loss of 21% due to inefficiency. The stochastic production frontier results further revealed that years of education and access to extension agents are factors that significantly affect the inefficiency of maize farmers. In addition, farmers were over-utilizing land while under-utilizing other inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, labour. The study therefore recommends farm level training programmes for maize farmers through an effective extension services could increase farmer’s efficiency level.
Keywords: Maize, Stochastic frontier analysis; technical efficiency; resource-use-efficiency; Nigeria
jaerem NEW Ogunnaike M.G yes
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