Measurement of Efficiency in Cocoyam Production: An Application of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Approach

Aims: The objective of this study were to estimate economic efficiency and its determinant on cocoyam farmers in Kaduna state.

Study Design: Primary data were used for this study and this was collected through the use of structured questionnaires.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conduct in Giwa, Kudan and Ikara local government areas in Kaduna state, Nigeria during 2014 cropping season.

Methodology: A Multistage sampling techniques were employed for this study.

Results: It was observed from the study that the majority of cocoyam farmers (36.29%) had technical efficiency of 0.81 and less than 1.00, the respondents (27.42%) operated within an allocative efficiency range of 0.2 and less than 0.2. The study also suggests that economic efficiency among cocoyam farmers were between 0.029 and 1.00, with a mean economic efficiency of 0.335. This result implies that the farmers in the study area are economically inefficient.

Conclusion: Data envelopment analysis was employed on measurement of efficiency in cocoyam production, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Based on the findings of this study, it could be concluded that cocoyam farmers are economically inefficient having economic efficiency of 34%. Also, age, education, extension and amount of credit received were the factors influencing economic efficiency of the cocoyam producers in the study area.