Comparative Analysis Of Productivity And Efficiency In Low And High External Inputs Technology Agriculture In Imo State

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to compare productivity and efficiency of Low External Input Technology and High External Input Technology Farms in Imo State. Specifically, it aimed at comparing the socio- economic characteristics of the two groups of farmers as well as their productivities, ascertain the factors influencing aggregate and individual resource productivities, determine production efficiency and returns to scale in the two farm types. The study was conducted in Imo State, Nigeria. Primary data used for the study were collected using structured questionnaire. The sample size comprised 80 Low external input technology and 80 High external input technology farmers who were selected using the multistage and purposive sampling techniques. The sampling frame comprised all the LEIT and HEIT farmers in Imo State. Data were analyzed using both statistical techniques, the Ordinary Least Square (OLS), multiple regression and profit function. The results of data analysis for the two farm types showed that farmland was more productive in the HEIT than LEIT farms while planting materials and organic manure were more productive in LEIT than planting materials and inorganic fertilizer in HEIT farms. Furthermore, man-days of labour and capital inputs are statistically significant in LEIT farms but non significant in the HEIT farm type at the 5% and 1% levels of probability though they possess the expected positive signs. The results of data analysis further showed that farm size, expenditure on planting materials, capital inputs, expenditure on organic manure, number of crops planted in a mixture in the farms, level of education and farming experience are the main determinants of aggregate agricultural productivity in LEIT farms. These variables are statistically significant at 1% and 5% levels.