PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY OF MAIZE-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS AMONG FARMERS IN HONG LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT

The study examined Productivity and Efficiency of Maize-based Cropping System Farmers in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents; identify the various maize-based cropping systems in the area; determine the profitability of maize-based cropping systems in the area; estimate the technical, allocative and economic efficiencies of the famers; determine the optimal production level and resources that maximizes profit; and identify production constraints associated with the maize-based cropping systems among the farmers. Data were collected from 116 randomly selected maize-based farmers in Hong local government area using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier function, gross margin analysis and linear programming were the analytical tools used. The results revealed that majority (81.03%) of the respondents were male and were between the age ranges of 31-50 years. Four cropping systems were identified namely; sole maize, maize/cowpea, maize/sorghum and maize/sorghum/cowpea with maize/sorghum having the highest gross margin of ₦57,565.00/ha and sole maize having the least gross margin of ₦39,887.43/ha. The maximum likelihood estimates of the stochastic frontier production function revealed that farm size, seeds, hired labour and inorganic fertilizers were significantly and positively related to yield in maize-based cropping systems. The technical efficiency (TE) scores ranged between 0.36-0.96 with a mean TE of 0.75. Age, household size, educational level, membership of cooperative society and cropping systems were found to increase technical efficiency of the farmers. The maximum likelihood estimates of the stochastic frontier cost function revealed that expenses on land, cost of family labour, cost of hired labour, cost of agrochemicals and cost of seeds contributed significantly to the total cost of production. The allocative efficiency index ranged from 0.44-0.98 with a mean of 0.89. Household size, farming experience, level of education, membership of cooperative society, extension contact and cropping systems practiced were found to increase allocative efficiency of the farmers. The economic efficiency index ranged from 0.21-0.92 with a mean efficiency of 0.67. The optimal farm plan generated by the linear programming for maximizing total gross margin recommended two enterprises namely; maize/cowpea and maize /sorghum with their hectarage allocation of 1.41ha and 1.19ha respectively. The maximized total gross margin per hectare is ₦136,353.87. The major problems affecting farmers in the area were high cost of inorganic fertilizers, lack of credit facilities, lack of tractor hiring services and high cost of hired labour. The study recommended among others the designing of extension packages aiming at ensuring the efficient utilization of production inputs.