Technical Efficiency of Small Holder Cocoyam Production in Anambra State,Nigeria: A Cobb-Douglas Stochastic Frontier Production Approach

This study employed a Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function to measure the level of technical efficiency and its determinants in small-holder cocoyam production in Anambra state, Nigeria. A Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers in the state in 2005 from whom input-output data were obtained using the cost-route approach. The parameters of the stochastic frontier production function were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. The study found farm size, labour and fertilizer to be positively and significantly related to output at 5% level of significance. Socio economic determinants influencing technical efficiency directly were farming experiences and credit access at 5% level of significance. Age and farm size were negatively and significantly related to technical efficiency at 5% level of significance. The test of significance using ANOVA showed that there were significant differences in the technical efficiencies among zones.