Technical Efficiency of Swamp Rice Farmers in Ebonyi South Agricultural Zone, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Technical efficiency of resource use is imperative for increased rice production in Nigeria. The study attempted to determine the technical efficiency of swamp rice farmers in Ebonyi south agricultural zone, Ebonyi state, Nigeria. Specifically, the study analyzed the socio-economic characteristics of the swamp rice farmers, determined the technical efficiency of the swamp rice farmers as well as the distribution of technical efficiency among swamp rice farmers in the study area. Purposive and random sampling technique were used to select sixty respondents for the study. Structured questionnaire was the instrument of data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic production frontier. Results showed that the swamp rice farmers were in their active age (47years), predominantly male (70%), had average education (8 years spent in school) and married (86.7%). The maximum likelihood estimates showed that the variables of farm size, seed and labour were determinants of technical efficiency. The mean level of technical efficiency was 75.9% suggesting that an estimated 24.1% of the output is lost due to technical inefficiency in swamp rice production.