Assessment of Extent of Farm Mechanisation and Technical Efficiency of Cassava Production in Oyo State, Nigeria

This study assessed the extent of farm mechanization and technical efficiency of cassava production in Oyo State Nigeria. The objectives were to profile the socio-economic characteristics of farmers, describe the extent of mechanization, and examine the effect of extent of farm mechanization on technical efficiency. Three hundred and seventy-two (372) cassava farmers sampled using a multi-stage sampling technique, and the data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Cobb Douglass stochastic frontier model. Findings indicated that 80 percent of those involved in cassava farming were men with average age and farm size of 53 years and 0.75 hectares respectively which indicates that it was dominated by the smallholders. Mechanization as a whole was low (9%), and little mechanization was adopted beyond land clearing and ridging with most other activities being done manually. Supporting the findings on the frontier estimations was the fact that farm size proved to be a determining factor in cassava production while experience, accessibility of credit and extension services reduced inefficiency. Extent of Farm mechanization was not statistically significant but it has a negative coefficient which implies that it reduces inefficiency when implemented. In the study, it is concluded that the levels of efficiency have been high together with structural limitations in credit, extension, infrastructure and mechanization. Such limitations if improved will boost cassava production.