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How Efficient Is Maize Production among Smallholder Farmers in Zimbabwe?

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  • Mugabe, Douglas
  • Etienne, Xiaoli L.

Abstract

In this paper, we estimate the efficiency of resource use for maize production among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. We collect a total of 176 questionnaires from Mazowe South district, consisting of both A1 (less than 10 hectares of land) and A2 (greater than 10 hectares of land) farms. Findings based on parametric Stochastic Frontier models show that smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe are not efficiently utilizing their available agricultural resources when producing maize. The average technical efficiencies are only 36.75% and 38.6% for A1 and A2 farms, respectively. About 60% of A1 and all A2 farmers have technical efficiency scores between 0.3 and 0.5. In the non-parametric analysis, however, we find a much higher technical efficiency for both types of farms, over 60% and 75% for A1 and A2 farms, respectively. Still, these numbers are lower than those found in other countries. Among other factors examined, attaining tertiary education and access to extension services by the head of the household can significantly improve production efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Mugabe, Douglas & Etienne, Xiaoli L., 2016. "How Efficient Is Maize Production among Smallholder Farmers in Zimbabwe?," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235938, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaea16:235938
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.235938
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    1. Orefi Abu & Johann Kirsten, 2009. "Profit efficiency of small- and medium-scale maize milling enterprises in South Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(3), pages 353-368.
    2. Mushunje, Abbyssinia & Belete, Abenet & Fraser, Gavin C.G., 2003. "Technical Efficiency Of Resettlement Farmers Of Zimbabwe," 2003 Annual Conference, October 2-3, 2003, Pretoria, South Africa 19084, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA).
    3. Obi, Ajuruchukwu & Chisango, Future Fortune T., 2011. "Performance of Smallholder Agriculture Under Limited Mechanization and the Fast Track Land Reform Program in Zimbabwe," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 14(4), pages 1-20, November.
    4. Bangwayo-Skeete, Prosper F. & Bezabih, Mintewab & Zikhali, Precious, 2010. "Are Zimbabwe’s Fast Track Land Reform Farms more Technically Efficient than Communal Farms?," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Humboldt-Universitaat zu Berlin, vol. 49(4), pages 1-21.
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    Cited by:

    1. Federico Belotti & Giancarlo Ferrara, 2019. "Imposing monotonicity in stochastic frontier models: an iterative nonlinear least squares procedure," CEIS Research Paper 462, Tor Vergata University, CEIS, revised 29 Jan 2021.

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    Keywords

    Crop Production/Industries; Production Economics; Productivity Analysis;
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