Resource Use Efficiency of Yam Production in Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study examined the resource use efficiency of yam production in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling techniques were used to select 120 respondents and were interviewed using a well structured questionnaire. The study described the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers; indentify the system of land ownership and the constraints that yam farmers faced; and analyze the technical efficiency of the farmers. Descriptive statistics such as; frequency counts, mean and percentage was used while the inferential statistics used to estimate technical efficiency was stochastic frontier function. The findings revealed that the study area is dominated by male, married, experienced and small holder farmers with almost secondary school level of education. The mean and maximum technical efficiency was 0.87 and 0.99 respectively thus showing a high level of how yam farmers are technically efficient in the study area. The study recommended that government should provide adequate extension and supportive services with a view to improving farming techniques with technological innovation and farm inputs should be made available at highly subsidized rates through adequate and efficient distribution to the farmers.

Performance of Yam Marketing in Yewa Division of Ogun State, Nigeria

“…They are staple food crops, being the source of daily carbohydrate intake for the large populace of the world. The term root and tuber crop refers to any growing plant that store edible materials in the subterranean root, corm or tuber Toluwase and Sekumade [6]. Yam is a member of this important class of food.…”

“…It is an important tuber crop of the tropics. Yam is a tropical crop with many species, which originated from South East Asia and was brought to West Africa in the 16th century Toluwase and Sekumade [6]. Yam is an important food crop especially in the yam zone of West Africa, comprising Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote de 'vore.…”