TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF CEREAL PRODUCTION IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA: A CASE FOR MAIZE, RICE AND SORGHUM FARMERS

Abstract

This study estimated technical efficiency levels of cereal crops producers. The study employed the
translog stochastic frontier model to estimate efficiency levels of maize, rice and sorghum producers in
the survey area. Findings revealed that maize and sorghum farmers were operating in the efficiency
range of 0.50 to 0.98, while for rice farmers efficiency estimates ranged between 0.71 and 0.98. Fur-
thermore, it was also observed that a majority of the rice farmers operate in the range 0.91 and 0.98
efficiency levels. Also, about 18% of the farmers operate in the efficiency range of 0.81 and 0.90, while
just about 14% operate in the range of 0.96 and 0.98 efficiency levels for rice production. Findings
suggest that, all things been equal, most of the cereal crops producers could improve their current
levels of production by adjusting their input combination.