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Technical Efficiency Analysis of Maize Farmers in the Eastern Region of Ghana

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  • John K M
  • Wayo Seini

Abstract

This study assesses the technical efficiency and its determinants of maize farmers in the Eastern Region of Ghana. A multi stage random sampling procedure was employed to select 226 maize farmers from the four main geographical areas of the region for the study. A well-structured questionnaire and field observations were employed to collect relevant information from the respondents. Data collected was analyzed using relevant econometric techniques. The results indicate that elasticities of mean output for agrochemicals, hired labor, other inputs are positive while those of seed, fertilizer and family labor are negative. The computed return to scale on the other hand reveals that, on average, the maize farms exhibit decreasing returns to scale. The joint effect of operational and farm-specific factors influence technical efficiency but individual effects of some variables are not significant. Mean technical efficiency level of the farmers is estimated to be 51%, indicating that the possibility of increasing maize production in the region given the current state of technology and inputs level can be achieved in the short run by increasing the technical efficiency level of the farmers by 49% through the adoption of practices of the best maize farmer. Further, the empirical results from the inefficiency model show that extension visit, FBO membership, frequency of meeting by members of FBOs, formal training in maize farming, cash and in-kind credits are the major determinants of the farmers’ technical efficiency level. Finally, the resource use efficiency results revealed that agro-chemicals and hired labor are under-utilized whereas seed, fertilizer and family labor are over-utilized by maize farmers in the region. These results have implications for management of small and medium scale food crop farms in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • John K M & Wayo Seini, 2013. "Technical Efficiency Analysis of Maize Farmers in the Eastern Region of Ghana," Journal of Social and Development Sciences, AMH International, vol. 4(2), pages 84-99.
    • Handle: RePEc:rnd:arjsds:v:4:y:2013:i:2:p:84-99
    DOI: 10.22610/jsds.v4i2.739
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    Cited by:

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    2. Bempomaa, Beatrice & Acquah, Henry de-Graft, 2014. "Technical Efficiency Analysis of Maize Production: Evidence from Ghana," APSTRACT: Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, AGRIMBA, vol. 8(2-3), pages 1-7, September.
    3. Khanal, Uttam & Wilson, Clevo & Rahman, Sanzidur & Lee, Boon & Hoang, Vincent, 2020. "Smallholder farmers’ adaptation to climate change and its potential contribution to UN’s sustainable development goals of zero hunger and no poverty," MPRA Paper 106917, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 07 Sep 2020.
    4. Asante, Bright O. & Temoso, Omphile & Addai, Kwabena N. & Villano, Renato A., 2019. "Evaluating productivity gaps in maize production across different agroecological zones in Ghana," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    5. Windinkonté SEOGO & W. Jean-Pierre SAWADOGO, 2020. "Technical Efficiency Analysis of Millet Production in the Sahel Region of Burkina Faso," Journal of Social and Development Sciences, AMH International, vol. 11(1), pages 10-18.
    6. Nguyen-Anh, Tuan & Hoang-Duc, Chinh & Tiet, Tuyen & Nguyen-Van, Phu & To-The, Nguyen, 2022. "Composite effects of human, natural and social capitals on sustainable food-crop farming in Sub-Saharan Africa," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    7. William Adzawla & Hamdiyah Alhassan, 2021. "Effects of climate adaptation on technical efficiency of maize production in Northern Ghana," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Kehinde, Ayodeji Damilola, 2021. "Impact of Credit Access and Cooperative Membership on Cocoa Productivity in Southwestern Nigeria," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315855, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    9. Missiame, Arnold & Irungu, Patrick & Nyikal, Rose Adhiambo, 2021. "Gender-differentiated stochastic meta-frontier analysis of production technology heterogeneity among smallholder cassava farmers in Ghana," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 16(2), June.

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