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This study investigated the economic efficiency of pig production in Ogbomoso zone, agricultural zone in Oyo State, Nigeria, between June and October 2009 using stochastic production frontier approach. A multistage sampling technique was employed in the selection; Ogbomoso North and South Local Government Areas were purposively selected because of the larger population of pig farmers and structured questionnaires were used to collect data from randomly chosen one hundred and ten (110) pig farmers. Descriptive statistics, cost benefit analysis and stochastic frontier production function were used for analyzing the data. It was revealed from the findings that mean benefit cost ratio for pig production was 2.82, this means that the enterprise is profitable. The result of the Cobb-Douglass stochastic production frontier function also showed that stocking cost, cost of feed and cost of labour had positive significant effects on the production output, the estimated gamma parameter (γ) was 0.780 and highly significant at 99% (0.01). Sex, age and household size had negative significant effects on economic inefficiency. The sum of elasticity was 1.191, indicating a positive increasing return to scale in the study area which might lead to over utilization of inputs in terms of excess spending on inputs. Although, the pig farmers were found to be operating on the frontier and were generally economically efficient, higher improvement could still be achieved through easy accessibility to institutional credit, pens expansion, improved breeding stocks and provision of technical assistance.

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This study was conducted to identify and describe the factors affecting the use of maize-storage techniques among farmers. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to choose eight local government areas (LGAs) from four zones. Five villages were selected from each LGA. One hundred and eighty eight maize farmers were selected using probability proportionate to farmers' number in each village as contained in Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) household lists. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data, which were analyzed using a descriptive, multinomial model. The three maize-storage techniques under examination were local storage (LS), semi modern storage (SMS) and modern storage (MS). The survey revealed that 38% of the farmers used local storage, 31% did not store their maize, 21% used semi-modern, and 11% used modern storage techniques. About 83% of the maize farmers were male and 30% of those used local storage, while 27% did not use any storage. Fifty-five% of the farmers were in the age range of 41-50 years; 39% had no formal education and 43% had an average of eight household members. Most of the maize farmers (61%) inherited their storage structures.With the multinomial analysis revealed that increase in transportation cost, labor cost and farmers' household size enhanced the probability of using no storage, the probability of using local storage was enhanced by farmer's age, semi-modern choice was likely influenced by quantity of maize stored, while the probability of using modern storage was increased by years of experience, educational level of the farmers and quantity of maize stored by the farmers. Modern storage technique is highly recommended and farmers are encouraged to store in groups to store large quantities.

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