CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

The oxford dictionary of economics defines technical efficiency is an aspect of efficiency that
deals with obtaining the largest possible level of output for a given quantity of inputs; or the
smallest possible inputs for a given outputs, this is efficiency in production (John et al, 2009).
Generally speaking, the technical efficiency refers to the ability to minimize the input use in
production [Krumbhakar & Lovell 2004]. The technical efficiency is a very useful concept to
utilize, when farms may be maximizing profits or output subject to profit constraints, as well as
when optimizing other goals such as employment. Agnieszka, (2011). A farm displays total
technical efficiency if it produces on the boundary of the production possibility set, i.e. it
maximizes output with given inputs and a given technology (Erik & Liesbet (1999). Sotnikov
1998, opined that reform measures to ease up prices, abolish subsidies, and create competitive
markets should increase the competitive pressures in agriculture and push farms to the efficient
frontier.

Increase in the prices of food crops in the distraught economies across Africa deserves more
schemes for aggressive intervention in order to prevent it from aggravating the food security
challenges in the continent. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is majorly a mono-
economy with her crude oil as the major source of revenue to finance her budget, however in the
last one decade; the country has been impacted by the serial shocks in the global oil sector,
(Ikuemonisan, et al, 2020). There is empirical evidence that agricultural productivity is generally
low because resources are not efficiently utilized in developing nations, such as Nigeria, thus, in
an economy where resources are scarce and opportunities for new technologies are lacking,
inefficiency studies are imperative to show empirically the possibility of raising productivity by
improving efficiency without necessarily raising the resource base or developing new technology
(Tijani, 2006). The important challenges for the agricultural growth and development and other
similar agro-ecologies would depend expediently on the ability to encourage farmers in the use of
limited resources especially land, labor and capital optimally, consequently, there are need to

1
utilize farm resources efficiently.(Kainga et al., 2013) In Nigeria, out of an estimated 72 million
hectares of arable land only 34 million hectares (47.7%) were under cultivation (Ajakaiye &
Akande, 1998). Although, the country has abundant material and human resources but that aside,
it is not reliant on the food produced but on the imported agricultural raw materials to fulfill its
food requirements (NISER, 2000).

Despite these challenges, plantain is one of the fastest expanding staple food crops grown in
Nigeria and has continued to gain prominence among farmers while the industrial demand is also
rising consistently. Plantain belongs to the family Musaceae and the genus Musa, it is a perennial
herbaceous plant, 2 to 9m tall, with an underground rhizome or corm; he principal species are
Musa paradisca (French plantain), Musa acuminata (Gross Michel and Cavendish) and Musa
corniculata (Horn plantain) ( Ekunwe & Ajayi, 2010 ) The cultivars of plantain are French
plantain, French horn plantain, false horn plantain and horn plantain. It is a giant herb that is
cultivated in humid forest and mid-latitude zone of sub-Sahara Africa. It is thought to have
originated from South East Asia However, a remarkable diversity of plantain exists in sub-
Sahara Africa (Akintade, 2016). Plantains are sources of starch and energy (Dankyi et al., 2007).
Plantain is as well a viable source of income for small scale farmers who grow it in their garden.
It is largely planted by small holders and plays a major role in food security and income
generation for millions of poor rural regions around the world especially in African and Latin
American countries (Babatunde, 2010). Plantain plays vital roles in the feeding systems of both
human beings and farm animals. It has a very high nutritional value in source of dietary
carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Plantain is extremely rich in vitamin A, at the household
levels, plantain is consumed raw, fried, boiled, roasted and can be dried and grounded into flour
for other uses; apart from its consumption as a staple food, plantain is also used in the food
industries for the manufacture of chips, flakes, cakes, thereby creating important opportunities to
the populace directly or indirectly and invariably income for small holder farmers (Felix et al.,
2016). Nairaland Forum (2017) noted that if plantain is consumed by children at infant age, it
provides approximately 0.88mg of iron, 0.26mg off zinc and 24-55μg RAE. It asserted that the
consumption of plantain by pregnant or nursing mothers provides them with approximately
1.8mg of iron, 0.6 mg of zinc and 43.35 μg RAE of vitamin A. Diabetic patients rely sometimes
on plantain products for food as one of their basic diet.

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World production of plantain was estimated in 1985 at 25 million tones. Of this, 19.6 tones was
projected for Africa, Latin America was the second place producer at 4.1 million tones, Annual
production in Nigeria is 1,855,000 metric tonnes (Raw Materials Research and Development
Council (RMDC) Publication , 2002).Uganda, Colombia, Ghana, Rwanda, Democratic Republic
of the Congo and Nigeria are the largest producers of plantain with average yield of 15.7 tons/ha
(FAOSTAT, 2017). Nigeria is regarded as the largest producer of plantain in West-Africa with
annual production of about 2.8 million metric tons mostly obtained from the southern states
(FAOSTAT, 2013; Maps of world, 2016). The two-third of the total estimated 12 million metric
tonnes annual production of plantain in Africa comes from West Africa, INIBAP, 2003
(International Network for Improvement of Banana and Plantain). Due to the rich availability of
fertile forests and laterite soils favourable for plantain growth, plantain production is concentrated
in the southern region of Nigeria. Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, Imo,
Kwara, Enugu, Plateau, Kogi, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Oyo (Ekunwe &
Ajayi, 2010) Researches have shown that the current level of plantain production in Nigeria has
been inconsistent and low, thus allowing for home consumption and local trade (Tijani et al.,
2009). Also despite its prominence, Nigeria does not feature among the plantain exporting
nations as she produces more for local consumption than for export (Fortaleza, 2012). Plantain
production is becoming a significant economic activity for income generation for both large scale
and small holder farmers in the country, especially for those who produce them within their home
compounds or gardens. The crop is one of the Primary Commodities for Investment across the
SouthSouth zone in Nigeria, Rivers state inclusive. Below are the priority primary commodities
for investment across zones in Nigeria.

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Table 1.1: Priority Primary Commodities for Investment across Zones in Nigeria (Rank 1 =
Highest and 7 lowest)
Primary Rank Assigned
commodity
NC NE NW SE SS SW NIGERIA
Staple food
Rice 7 1 3 2 2.25
Maize 5 2 1 4 2.5
Millet 3 3 4 4.0
Cowpea 6 4 2 4.0
Sorghum 5 5 5.0
Cassava 2 6 6 1 1 2 3.0
Yam 1 7 7 3 2 1 3.5
Sweet potato 5 5.0
Cocoyam 6 6.0
Melon 7 7.0
Plantain 4 4.0
Guinea corn 4 4.0
Key: NC=Northcentral, NE=Northeast, NW=Northwest, SE=Southeast, SS=Southsouth,
SW=southwest Source: Manyong et al , 2008.

Nairaland Forum (2017) noted that if plantain is consumed by children at infant age, it provides
approximately 0.88mg of iron, 0.26mg off zinc and 24-55μg RAE. It asserted that the
consumption of plantain by pregnant or nursing mothers provides them with approximately
1.8mg of iron, 0.6 mg of zinc and 43.35 μg RAE of vitamin A. Diabetic patients rely sometimes
on plantain products for food as one of their basic diet. The economic importance of plantain
makes the crop an invaluable cash crop in a country like Nigeria where health, nutrition and
dietary implications of foods need to be considered top priority given the large growing
population. Despite its importance, it has not been given that priority and prominence it deserves
when compared to arable crops like, cassava, maize and cash crops such as and oil palm in Rivers
State, Nigeria. Studies in Khana Local Government Area in Rivers State showed that there is low

4
productivity of the crop (about 14.9 tonnes per hectare compared to 26.4tonnes/ha obtained in
Western Africa) due to challenging issues such as scarcity of labour, marketing constraints,
diseases, insufficient capital, inadequate farmland, rural-urban migration, inadequate storage
facilities and farmer’s poor knowledge and inability to adopt new agricultural technologies is
perceivably affecting their productivity (Adewumi, et al., 2009; Akinyemi et al., 2010; Shaibu,
Maji, & Ogburia, 2012).

It is believed that if resources are adequately determined and efficiently allocated, increase in
farmers output per hectare may be achievable. Idiong, (2007) and Oniah et al (2008) noted that
farmers output per hectare could be raised either by adopting improved production techniques or
by identifying and determining factors that affect production. They submitted that, the rate of
adoption or improved efficiency in resource utilization is the best option for increased farmer’s
productivity in a short-run and production problems may be overcome through the introduction of
new production technologies in the long run. The demand for plantain has increased
tremendously in the last one decade as a number of local processing industries have emerged
which use it industrially for making bread, cakes, biscuits and so on (Ekunwe and Ajayi, 2010).
Therefore boosting production without efficient utilization of available resources may defeat the
goal of the Farmer (profit maximization or cost minimization as the case maybe). This can
increase cost of production and discourage farmers from investing in plantain cultivation, hence
this study. This study seeks to analyse the technical efficiencies and resource use in plantain
production in Rivers State, Nigeria.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

According to Begg et al (1984) cited in Kainga and Seiyabo (2012), when the economy is
producing the maximum possible quantity of the goods given the resources and technology
available, the economy as a whole is said to be efficient. It therefore means that optimal
production is achieved when the available resources are utilized fully. Plantain being a major
staple food in the humid tropics, Rivers State inclusive is not exonerated from some of the cost
associated with other food crops, sustainable production of plantain is crucial to secure food and
provide income to millions of people. It has been reported that from last few years yield of
plantain drastically reduced due to the high population growth and urbanization (Faturoti et al.,
2007). With this Olayide and Heady (1982) cited in Kainga and Seiyabo (2012), identified that
5
low plantain productivity is associated with the inability of the farmer in making use of available
farm resources efficiently. The drastic changes in agricultural practices during the past 100 years
have come about in response to social needs, and we cannot turn the clock back and still feed the
current human population. (Bethel & Morgan, 2020 )

Studies (Akinseinde, 2006; Ojo, 2007) attributed the gap between food production and population
growth in Nigeria to low productivity of resources being used and technology, arising from
shortfall in the essential farm inputs, which necessitates the use of primitive tools. The resultant
effect of low-level technology is low yield which is not enough to feed the teeming population;
hence the increase in prices of food crops. Other factors accountable for low productivity of
resources are poor implementation of government policies; high level of illiteracy among the
rural dwellers, especially the farming population; poor quality of planting material and breeding
animal stock; and poor pricing policy. Low productivity is also attributed to high poverty rate
among food crop farmers.

Moreover, Amaza and Olayemi (2002) identified low crop yield and productivity of resources
utilized as the main constraints to rapid growth in food production in Nigeria. If resources are
properly harnessed and efficiently allocated, increase in farmers output from the existing hectares
of land being cultivated is achievable. Idiong (2007) noted that productivity of farmers in Nigeria
could be raised either by adopting improved production technologies or through improved
efficiency in resource utilization or both. He submitted that the low rate of adoption of improved
technologies by farmers makes improved efficiency in resource utilization the best option for
increased farmers’ productivity in the short-run.

Despite the export potential and its capability of addressing problems of food insecurity and
poverty, there is little literature (s) technical efficiency and resource use in plantain production in
the study area except the few ones on community empowerment via economic and technical
assistance with hybrid plantain/banana enterprise expansion programme in Rivers State, Nigeria,
(Achike, et al., 2011), economic assessment of plantain production in Rivers State, Nigeria
(Fakayode et al.,2011) An socioeconomic factors influencing plantain production in Khana local
government area of Rivers State (Elum &Tigiri 2018) and Structural Analysis of Plantain
Marketing in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria (Agbagwa, et al., 2020) hence, the
need for this study. The choice of Rivers State is because of its climatic suitability for plantain
6
production. From the foregoing, the research intends to fill the lacuna in literature on technical
efficiency resource use in plantain production. The need for this research becomes imperative
bearing in mind the need to address the problem of food insecurity and poverty in the study area.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of this study is analyse the technical efficiency and resource use in plantain
production in Rivers State, Nigeria. The specific objectives are to:

i. describe the socio-economic characteristics of the plantain farmers;

ii. analyse the costs and returns linked in plantain production;
iii. ascertain the resources used in plantain production;
iv. determine the factors of plantain production;
v. determine the resource use and technical efficiency in plantain production and;
vi. ascertain the factors militating against plantain production and suggestions to
improvements.

1.4 Research Questions

In line with the objectives of the study, the following question will be answered
i. What are the socio-economic characteristics of the plantain farmers;
ii. What are the costs and returns in plantain production;
iii. What are the resources used in plantain production;
iv. What are the factors of plantain production;
v. What are the resources used and technical efficiency in plantain production and;
vi. What are the factors militating against plantain production and suggestions to
improvements.
1.5 Research Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses will be formulated to guide this study;

Ho1: the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers do not affect plantain production.

Ho2: plantain production is not profitable.

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Ho3: plantain farmers are not technically efficient in the use of resources for production.

1.6 Significance of the Study

There are more and more changes to resource use combinations. The resources use technologies
that are available is regularly being altered so that it can boost production and in turn maximize
profit and in order to design appropriate policies that will bring about an efficient production of
Plantain in Nigeria, there is need to carry out a study on technical efficiencies and resource use in
plantain production in Nigeria. This study is expected to provide information useful to future
researchers. It will inform appropriate policy formulation towards enhancing plantain farmers’
productivity in Rivers State and test a relevant hypothesis.
Also information provided by this study to the student and research bodies has made this
study not only a timely response, but a right step in a right direction. It will also be useful to
individuals and firms who may wish to engage in cassava production in Bayelsa State. In
addition, this study will enable government bodies identify problems faced by smallholder
cassava farmers on the use of agricultural technologies. More so, apart from providing useful
information on the effects of Agricultural technology on cassava production in the area, it will
also serve as a benchmark for further studies in this area. This study will also provide information
to the extension agents on gains in plantain production enterprises. This information could be
utilized by the extension agents for retraining the farmers at skill acquisition centers or through
small plot adoption techniques to enable farmers acquire improvement in plantain production.

In an economy where resources are scare and opportunities for new technologies are lacking,
efficiency studies can show the possibility of raising productivity by improving efficiency
without expanding the resource base. Plantain farmers can thereby maximize profit and produce
more, leading to food security and competitiveness in plantain production. This study will
therefore serve as a guide to agricultural key players on plantain production investment decisions.
It could also serve as a source of relevant information to other countries facing similar situation.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The scope of this study is to analyse the technical efficiency and resource use in plantain
production and the geographical scope of the study is Rivers State, Nigeria. The units of analysis
are the plantain farmers in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study will be delimited to describing the
8
socio-economic characteristics of the plantain farmers; costs and returns associated in plantain
production, the resources used in plantain production, the factors of plantain production, the
resource use and technical efficiency in plantain production and the factors militating against
plantain production and suggestions to improvements.

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CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The literature is reviewed under the following subheadings:
2.1 Conceptual Framework
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Empirical Studies
2.4 Summary of Literature Review

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CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Design of the Study

This study will adopt a survey design.

3.2 Area of Study

The study will be carried out in River State, Nigeria. Rivers State is one of the 36 states of
Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. About two thirds of Rivers state lies in the Niger Delta
geographical terrain of Nigeria and the state is bounded in the south by the Atlantic ocean which
has a great influence on the its climate. To the North, the state is bounded by Anambra, Imo and
Abia States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by the Bayelsa and Delta States.
The state has a population of about three million people and occupies an area of 21,850 square
kilometers (NPC,2006) The dominant ethnic groups in the state are the Ijaw, Ikwerre, Etche,
Ogoni, and Ogba/Egbema. Ijaw and Ikwerre are the most spoken languages although pidgin
English is widely used in radio and television broadcasts.

Rivers State is currently made up of 3 Agricultural Zones (Rivers east, River Southeast and
Rivers West) with 23 local government areas. These are Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada, Ikwerre,
Etche, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro Bonny, Okrika, Oyigbo, Khana, Gokana Tai, Eleme, Obio/Akpor,
Emohua, Degema, Aseri Toru, Akuku, Abua/Odial, Omumma, Opobo/Nkoro, Ogu/ Bolo,
Ahaoda West and Eleme (Ngex Nigeria Site, 2008). Agriculture is the main occupation of the
people of Rivers State and the agricultural policy of the state government is anchored on food
production. This provides employment for young school leavers and university graduates. These
agricultural activities are grouped' under Community Block Farming Scheme, Community
Fishing Scheme, Livestock Scheme and Rabbitry. Major crops cultivated in the state include
yam, cassava, maize, oil palm, banana and plantain. The inland part of Rivers state consists of
tropical rainforest; towards the coast the typical river delta environment features many mangrove
swamps. Rivers state’s climate consists of two main seasons, the dry and wet seasons. The rainy
season fall between March and October of each year. The state also enjoys low temperature
ranges of between 22oC-33oC and a high relative humidity due to its proximity to the Atlantic
Ocean. (River State Ministry of Information, 2008).Plantain is produced in nearly all the local

11
government areas of Rivers State (Rivers State Agricultural Development Project (RSADP),
2003).
3.3 Population of the Study
The study population will include all plantain farmers in River state, Nigeria. ten (10) Local
government areas will be purposely selected for their dominance in plantain production in the
state. cocoyam farmers in Etche Local Government Area gotten from Rivers State Agricultural
Development Project (RSADP), 2019.

3.4 Sampling Procedure and Sample Size

A three (3) staged sampling technique will be employed in selecting respondents for this study.
The first stage will be a purposive selection of ten (10) Local Government Areas (LGA) for their
dominance in plantain production. The second stage will be a random selection of five (4)
communities in each LGA, Finally, seven (7) plantain farmers will be selected randomly from
each of the communities, from the sample frame to give a sum of two hundred and eighty(280)
plantain Farmers.
3.5 Data Collection

Primary data will used for this study. The data will be collected with the aid of structured
questionnaire to elicit information on (a) farmer’s socio-economic characteristics such as age,
household size, educational status, amount of credit received, numbers of extension contact, years
spent on the cooperative, income. (b) Production information; level of inputs used and output in
cocoyam production. (c) Constraints faced by the farmers in cocoyam production.

3.6 Analytical Techniques

The tools that was used in the analysis include, descriptive statistics, budgeting analysis and
Cobb Douglas stochastic frontier production function.
3.6.1 Descriptive Statistics
Descriptive statistics was used to achieve objectives (i) and (iv) of the study. It involved the use
of measures of central tendency such as means, frequency distributions and percentages to
describe the socio-economic characteristics of cocoyam farmers in the study area, i.e. objective
(i), and the constraint confronting the cocoyam production, objective (iv).

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3.6.2 Budgeting Analysis
The Net Farm Income (NFI) will be employ to achieve objective two (ii). It will be use to
estimate the costs and returns of cocoyam production. The formula for the net farm income
model is stated as follows.
NFI= TR-TC ……………………………………………………………............... 1
Where,
NFI= net farm income (₦);
TR= total revenue (₦);
TC= total cost of production (₦); Also,
TC= TVC+TFC …………………………………………………………………… 2
Where,
TVC= total variable cost (₦) and
TFC= total fixed cost (₦)
Total Cost (TC) = Total Variable Cost (TVC) + Total Fixed Cost (TFC)
TVC = (cocoyam sett, fertilizer, labour and capital)
TFC = (cost of renting land, hoe and cutlass)
The fixed inputs are not normally used up at long run in a production cycle.
Returns per naira invested (RNI) was obtained by dividing the gross income (GI) by the total cost
(TC).
Therefore,
RNI = (GI) ............................................................................................4
TC

Where:
RNI = returns per Naira invested
GI = gross income and
TC = total cost.

3.6.3 Cobb Douglas Stochastic Frontier Production Analysis

The Cobb Douglas stochastic frontier production function was used to achieve objective iii. It
was specified implicitly as:

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Yi = f (xi ß) + ei ............................................................................................5
ei = vi - ui ...................................................................................................... 6

Where:
Yi = quantity of output of the ith farm
Xi = vector of the inputs used by the ith farm
ß = a vector of the parameters to be estimated,
ei = composite error term
vi = random error outside farmer’s control and
-ui = technical inefficiency effects
Cobb Douglas Stochastic Frontier Production Function Model used in the study is specified
explicitly as:
Log Y = ß0 + ß1logX1 + ß2logX2 + ß3logX3 + ß4logX4 + ß5logX5(V – U) ................. 7
Where:
Log = the natural logarithm,
Y = output of cocoyam (kg/ha),
ß0 = constant term,
ß1 - ß3= regression coefficients,
X1 = quantity of sett (kg),
X2 =quantity of fertilizer (kg),
X3 = total labour used (man days),
X4 = Land area (size of farm),
X3 = Capital used (N).
Vi = random variability in the production that cannot be influenced by the farmer.
-Ui = deviation from maximum potential output attributable to technically inefficiency.
-Ui = ϐ0 + ϐ11nZ1 + ϐ21nZ2 + ϐ31nZ3 + ϐ41nZ4 + ϐ51nZ5 + ϐ61nZ6 + ϐ71nZ7 .................. 8
Where:
-Ui = inefficiency effects,
Z1 = age of farmer (years),
Z2 = household size (number),
Z3 = formal education (years),

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Z4 = amount of credit (₦),
Z5 = access to extension services (number of extension contact/period)
Z6 = membership of cooperative society (years)
Z7 = experience in cocoyam production
ϐ0 = constant and
ϐ1 – ϐ6 = Parameters to be estimated.

The explicit form of Cobb Douglas stochastic frontier cost function is specified as:
lnC = ß0 + ß1lnX1 + ß2lnX2 + ß3lnX3 + ß4lnX4 + ß5lnX5 + (Vi + Ui) ......................................10
Where:
ln = the natural logarithm,
C = Total cost of output (₦),
X1 = cost of sett (₦),
X2 = cost of fertilizer (₦)
X3 = cost of labour (₦),
X4 = cost of Output (₦),
X5 = cost of renting land
ß0 = constant term
ß1 – ß3= regression coefficients
Vi = random variability in the production that cannot be influenced by the farmer and
Ui= deviation from maximum potential output attributable to technically inefficiency.

Technical Efficiency Model used in the study was specified as:

The product of technical efficiency (TE) provides the index of for the study.
TE ………………………………………………………………….. 11

Where;
TE= Technical Efficiency and

3.7 Measurement of Dependent and Independent Variables

15
Nine explanatory variables measured as continuous and discrete variables were hypothesized for
determinants of cocoyam production.
(i) Age: This refers to the number of years of an individual attained from birth. It is a
continuous variable and it will be measured in years. Hofferth (2013), argues that the higher the
age of the household head, the more stable the economy of the farm household, because older
people have also relatively richer experiences of the social and physical environments as well as
greater experience of farming activities. More also, older household heads are expected to have
better access to land than younger heads, because younger men either wait for a land distribution,
or have to share land with their families. The estimated coefficient of age was expected to have
negative sign on the technical inefficiency model.
(ii) Education Level: Education is generally considered an important variable that could
enhance farmer’s acceptance of new technologies. Ogunbameru (2011), posited that education
will likely enhance the adoption of modern farm technologies by youth and thereby sustaining a
virile farming population. The more educated farmers are, the more likely they adopt technology
and also translate into production experience. Level of education is measured by number of years
spent in formal schooling. The estimated coefficient of education was expected to have negative
sign on the technical inefficiency model; this implies that the educational level of the farmer is
reducing technical inefficiency thereby increasing technical efficiency.
(iii) Household Size: This means the total number of people in the house which includes the
wives, children and dependents that reside within the same house. Since food requirements
increases with the number of person in the household and also because land and finance to
purchase agricultural inputs are limited. Increasing family size, according to Brown (2014), tends
to exert more pressure on consumption than the labour it contributes to production. The larger the
family size the more favourably disposed will be the members to participate in cocoyam
production operation. The estimated coefficient of household size was expected to have negative
sign on the technical inefficiency model. This was measured as numbers of people living together
and eating from same pot. The a priori expectation for household size was expected to be
positive; this implies that the household size of the farmer is increasing technical efficiency.
(iv) Amount of Money Received as Credit: This refers to amount of credit received from
both formal and informal sources. It will be measured as the actual money/credit borrowed.
Credit is a very strong important factor that is needed to acquire or develop farm enterprise

16
(Ekong, 2013). Its availability could determine the extent of production capacity. This was
measure as amount received in naira. The estimated coefficient of credit obtained is expected to
have negative sign on the technical inefficiency model. The a priori expectation for amount of
money received was expected to be negative, this implies that the amount of money received by
the farmer is reducing technical inefficiency or increasing technical efficiency.
(v) Extension Contact: Agricultural extension service constitutes a driving force for any
agricultural development. The relationship between agricultural extension agent and the farmer is
an important determinant in improving yield of cocoyam as well as in ensuring food security
(Chikezie et al., 2012). The more number of visits of an extension agent to the farmers, the
greater the chance for them to adopt innovation. It was measured in terms of number of visits
made by an extension agent. The estimated coefficient of extension contact was expected to have
negative sign on the technical inefficiency. This implies that the extension contact of the farmer
is reducing technical inefficiency or increasing technical efficiency.
(vi) Co-operativeMembership: Co-operative groups are organized for the promotion of
special interest or meet certain needs that cannot be achieved by the individual efforts. They
contribute to the dissemination of new ideas, practices and products as well as in sourcing for
loan and farm input (Chikezie et al., 2012). Farmers that belong to a co-operative society are
likely to adopt new technology easily than those not in any co-operative. Thus it influences the
attitude of members towards community developmental projects. This variable was used to
characterize farmers based on particular involvement in cocoyam production at the time of data
collection. This was measure in years of participation. The estimated coefficient of cooperative
membership was expected to have negative sign on the technical inefficiency.
(vii) Quantity of Sett: This will be measured in kilograms (kg). It was be included in the
model to examine the actual kilograms of the cocoyam seed used in production cycle. The a
priori expectation for quantity of seed was expected to be positive; this implies that, a unit
increase in quantity of seed will bring about increase in output.
(viii) Quantity of Fertilizer: This will be measured in kilograms (kg). It was included in the
model to examine the actual amount of fertilizer used in production. The a priori expectation for
fertilizer was expected to be positive; this implies that, a unit increase in quantity of fertilizer will
bring about increase in output.

17
(ix) Quantity of Labour: This consist of family and hired labour, it was included in the
model to examine how variability in labour used affect output. Following Norman (2012),
children age 7 – 14years are accorded 0.5 of adult male equivalent, female adult of 15 – 46years
are accorded 0.75 and male adults of 15 – 64years are accorded 1.00. Labour will be measured in
man-days. The a priori expectation for quantity of labour was expected to be positive; this
implies that, a unit increase in quantity of labour will bring about increase in output.
(x) Farming Experience: The number of years experience in production of cocoyam
increases output and quality of the crop. The prior expectation is positive as the years of farming
increases. This variables will be estimated in years. The variables reduces technical ineffcieicny.

18