Allocative efficiency of small-holder cocoyam farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study employed a stochastic frontier translog cost and production functions to measure the level of allocative efficiency and it's determinants in small-holder cocoyam production in Anambra state, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers in the state in 2005 from whom input-output data and their prices were obtained using the cost-route approach. The parameters of the stochastic frontier cost function were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. The result of the analysis shows that individual farm level allocative efficiency was about 65%. The study found age and education to be negatively and significantly related to allocative efficiency at 1.0%. Farm size coefficient also had a negative relationship with allocative efficiency and was significant at 5.0%. Fertilizer use and credit access was significant and directly related to allocative efficiency at 5.0% as well as farm experience at 10.0% level of probability. No significant relationship was found between allocative efficiency and extension visit, family size and membership of cooperative societies.

Technological innovation and efficiency in the Nigerian maize sector: Parametric stochastic and non-parametric distance function approaches

“…AFERT was also found to have a positive and significant impact on AE and CE in all three models, but a significant impact on TE in the SIDF model only. These findings are consistent with those of Msuya, Hisano and Nariu (2008) and Okoye et al (2006), namely that inorganic fertiliser has a positive impact on AE and TE respectively. Fertiliser technology can be said to correlate with credit.…”

“…Some researchers in Nigeria (Ogunyinka & Ajibefun, 2004;Okoye, Onyenweaku & Asumugha, 2006) found similar negative signs of the extension variable for technical efficiency. This negative impact can be explained by the fact that extension services in Nigeria in general have not been effective, especially after the withdrawal of World Bank funding from the Agricultural Development Project (ADP), which is the main agency responsible for extension services.…”

Economic Efficiency of Maize Production in Swaziland: The Case of Hhohho, Manzini and Shiselweni Regions

“…It is achieved when the producer combines resources in the least cost combination to generate maximum output (technical) as well as ensuring least cost to obtain maximum revenue (Chukwuji, et al, 2006). Two major approaches to measure and estimate efficiency exists (Okoye et al, 2006). The parametric approach, non-parametric approach.…”

Molecular Characterization of 36 Accessions of Two Genera of Cocoyam (Colocasia [Schott] and Xanthosoma [Schott], Araceae)

“…Production of cocoyam in many tropical and subtropical countries is mainly for family subsistence through income and food security. In the study by Okoye et al (2006) to determine allocative effieciency of cocoyam in part of Nigeria there result suggest that age, education, farm size, farm experience, fertilizer use and credit access have direct contribution less so for extension visit, family size and membership of cooperative societies.…”

“…However, little is known about their extent of production, cultivation, types he taxonomy of the plant (Talwana et al, 2009, There are two major varieties of Colocasia, namely esculenta var esculenta, with a large central corm, with suckers and stolons and C. esculenta var antiquorum characterized with a small central corm and a large number of smaller cormels (Gomez 2006;Seetohul et al, 2008). Most edible species of Xanthosoma are either X. sagittifolium (Okoye et al, 2006). Their corms are often d distinguish from those of C. esculentus have been removed (Matthews, 2010).…”