Abstract
This study determined technical efficiency among maize farmers in Doguwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano State, Nigeria. One hundred and seventy nine maize farmers were sampled using a three stage sampling procedure. Primary data was used with the aid of structured questionnaire. The results were analysed using descriptive statistics and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. The results of the socio-economic analysis shows that maize farmers fell within the mean age of 42 years, mean household size was 15 persons. The mean farming experience was 24 years with average extension contacts of 4 times per year. Results from the DEA shows that the mean technical efficiency scores from DEA using CRSTE and VRSTE specifications were 62% and 47%. Therefore, 38% and 53% of the maize farms were not technically efficient in the use of production inputs respectively. The estimated regression reveals that seed (p<0.01), fertilizer (P<0.1), labour (P<0.05) and farm size (P<0.01) were the determinant of technical efficiency of maize farmers. The result of the technical inefficiency indicates that age (p<0.10), education (p<0.10), farming experience (p<0.05) and extension contact (p<0.05) were the socio-economic factors influencing inefficiency of maize farmers. Effort should be made by maize farmers to make their cooperative societies more formidable, to benefit from economy of bulk purchase of input supply, farm advisory services, increased access to micro-credit, and access to modern farming techniques.
Key Words: Cooperative society, Extension, Inefficiency, Maize, Nigeria
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