The efficiency of maize farming in Malawi. A bootstrapped translog frontier

We measure the level and determinants of technical efficiency of maize based smallholder farmers using a bootstrapped translog stochastic frontier that is a posteriori checked for functional consistency. The results show that higher levels of technical efficiency are obtained when farmers use integrated soil fertility options compared to the use of inorganic fertilizer only. With respect to the policy variables considered in the analysis, access to agricultural input and output markets, credit provision and extension services strongly influence smallholders’ technical efficiency. There is a need to strengthen these public policy issues in order to effectively address the efficiency of Malawian agriculture and its impact on poverty by ensuring sustainable soil fertility management.