Efficiency analysis of cotton production: a case study of gassol and lau local government of Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

This Study analyzed the efficiency of cotton Production in Gassol and Lau Local Government Areas of Taraba State. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires administered to 81 randomly selected farmers in the study areas and analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function analysis. The result revealed that majority of farmers (67.9%) were young, mostly males (86.42%) and educated (86.41%). The result of the budgeting technique showed that the total revenue (TR), gross margin (GM), net Farm income (NFI) and Return on Investment (ROI) per hectare were N55, 108.70, N21, 128.70, N20, 008.70 and N0.62 respectively. The result of the stochastic frontier production analysis revealed that the variance parameter indicates positive and significant relationship at 5% level of probability for agro-chemicals and family labour at 1% level of probability for fertilizer, labour and farm size. Mean technical efficiency index was 0.77 while the minimum and maximum technical efficiency were 0.37 and 0.97 respectively. The study also identified that low price of cotton seed and high cost of inputs are the major challenges faced by cotton producers. The study recommended that inputs should be subsidized by the government and be channeled through the community leaders.