Efficient allocation of resources has been a problem in small holder farm economy in Nigeria. The study analyzes cost efficiency in food crop production among small-scale farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Specifically, the socioeconomic characteristics of food crop farmers in the study area were described, their various cropping systems identified and the cost efficiency indices of the farmers determined. Data were collected from 360 randomly selected food crop farmers in eight local government areas spread across the four ADP zones of the State using structured questionnaires. The analytical tools were descriptive statistics involving the use of frequency tables and inferential statistics involving the use of stochastic frontier cost function. The result revealed that married female farmers constituted majority (57.22%) of the respondents. Their literacy level was high, as 84% of them had some form of formal education. The respondents cultivated an average of about two hectares of farm land using personal savings. Eleven cropping systems were identified with mixed cropping accounting for about 53% of the cropping systems and about 54% of the total hectarage allocations. The maximum likelihood estimates of the stochastic cost function revealed that the explanatory variables; extension contact, crop diversification and credit availability were significantly and positively related to cost efficiency in the study area. The cost efficiency index ranged from 0.18-0.98, with a mean of 0.84 implying that an average farm in the study area has the scope for increasing cost efficiency by 16% given the existing technology. The study recommended farmers education on fundamental farm management skills to enable farmers plan, evaluate and appraise their farm business activities among others.
The Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) was initiated by the Nigerian government to boost agricultural production through the provision of 'smart subsidies' on some farm inputs to small-scale farmers. This review highlights the successes and challenges of the Scheme's implementation process across the country. The study reviewed scholarly articles and other secondary data from government sources on the scheme. Findings from the study revealed that the Scheme was able to deliver subsidised agricultural inputs to small-scale farmers with relative ease and at affordable rate which was able to boost farm output. However, the scheme is affected majorly by its politicization, the inability of the governments to release funds to agro-dealers leading to late delivery of inputs and the lack of support service (extension) to farmers. Based on these findings, it is therefore recommended that, adequate synergy should be established between all collaborating agencies of the government participating in the scheme to ensure adequate release of funds, timely disbursement of farm inputs and the provision of suitable support services to farmers.
This study analyzed the allocative (cost) efficiency of rainfed maize production in Yola North and Yola South Local Government Areas of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 128 respondents. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier cost function model. Results revealed that the respondents had a mean age of 39 years and have large household sizes. The sampled farmers are experienced and cultivated an average of about two hectares of land. The respondents had also acquired one form of formal education or the other with primary school as the least. The results of the maximum likelihood estimate parameters of the stochastic frontier cost function revealed that cost of land and cost of seeds, cost of hired labour and cost of agrochemicals were significant at different level of probabilities. The allocative efficiency indices revealed that allocative efficiency of the sampled farmers ranged from 0.44 to 0.98 with a mean of 0.68, implying that an average farmer in the study area has the scope for increasing cost efficiency by 32% given the existing technology. The study recommends provision of adequate farm inputs and essential services at low cost to rainfed maize farmers.
This study assessed multidimensional poverty in rural parts of Adamawa state, Nigeria. Specifically, the study objectives were to: describe the respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, determine their multidimensional poverty status, and identify the determinants of multidimensional poverty in the sampled communities. Multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 480 household heads selected from 16 villages across the study area. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, Multidimensional Poverty Analytical Tool (MPAT), and Binary Logistic regression model. The respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics described in the study showed that the mean age was 46.3 years, while the average household size was 7 persons. The study indicated that most (86.7%) of the respondents were male, who are mostly married (91.7%), and that majority (74%) are educated. The distribution of the respondents’ multidimensional poverty status revealed that majority (61.7%) of the households were poor. The study revealed that multidimensional poverty in the study area is influenced negatively by age, marital status, and household size. Similarly, gender, educational level, livelihood activities, farm size, livestock ownership, remittance, membership of group, and access to credit positively influence multidimensional poverty. Key among the recommendations of the study is the adequate provision of basic infrastructure in the area.
The study examined allocative efficiency and its determinants among fadama food crop farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria using the stochastic cost frontier approach. A single-stage estimation procedure was used where socio-economic variables were incorporated directly into the estimation of the cost frontier model. Data were collected from 160 randomly selected fadama farmers in the state using stratified and purposive sampling techniques. The estimated coefficients of the stochastic cost function revealed that cost of land, cost of agro-chemicals and cost of seeds were statistically significant at 1% level, cost of hired labour and cost of water were significant at 5% level, while cost of inorganic fertilizers was significant at 10% level. The estimated coefficient of the socio-economic variables in the inefficiency cost model shows that farming experience, education and age increases allocative efficiency in fadama food crop production. On the allocative efficiency levels, the result revealed that the farmers were efficient in the allocation of resources in fadama crop production. However, there is a scope for allocative efficiency improvement in the short-run Original Research Articlegiven the current state of technology of 21% and 58% for the average and least efficient farmer respectively. The study recommends the implementation of policies that would improve farmers' access to credit, timely distribution of productive inputs, subsidization of cost of agricultural inputs and the encouragement of research in fadama food crop farming.
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