Abstract

Weed control strategies and cost effectiveness of the various technology options often pose lots of concern among food crop farmers. This study evaluates the technical efficiency and associated economic considerations in weed management practices on pepper-based farming systems in Yewa Division of Ogun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 128 pepper farmers selected through a multistage sampling technique, using structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, cost estimation and the stochastic frontier production models. 91.4% of the sampled farmers were male with a mean age of 44±3 years; mean household size of 6 members; and mean farming experience of 21±2 years. Majority (70.3%) of the pepper farmers cultivated between 0.4 hectare and 1.4hectares of land with a mean farm size of 1.0 hectare. Weed control were done manually (47.7% farmers) and by chemical method (52.3% farmers), with an average weed control cost of ₦102,373.37 per hectare. The mean technical efficiency of 73.2 percent showed that farmers’ efficiency level can still increase by 26.8 percent. Technical efficiency was positively enhanced by the cultivated farm size (0.2328; p<0.01); quantity of seed planted (0.7509; p<0.01) and herbicide application rate (0.0908; p<0.05), while hired labour engagement (-0.0779; p<0.1) reduced it. Increased years of farming experience (-2.4892; p<0.05); adoption of chemical weed control technology (-4.2584; p<0.01), and maintaining regular weed control culture (-3.5974; p<0.01) reduced inefficiency in pepper-based weed management practices. Provisions of incentives to further motivate small-scale pepper farmers towards adopting integrated weed control management practices, and improved irrigation systems were recommended to encourage increased output levels and reduce overall production cost on pepper farms.

Key Words: Weed management practices, Technical efficiency, Pepper-based farms, Cost estimates