RESOURCE USE EFFICIENCY OF ACHA (Digitaria specie) PRODUCTION IN SOUTHERN BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE NIGERIA
Abstract
The study examined resource use efficiency in acha production in Southern Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was employed which led to a sample of 384 acha farmers randomly selected for the study. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Socioeconomic characteristics of acha farmers showed a mean age of 42 years, household size of 8 persons, mean farming experience of 10 years and a mean farm size of 0.6hectares devoted to acha production. Four factors were significant in determining resource use efficiency of acha farmers; these were seed quantity at (P≤0.01), fertilizer and labour (P≤0.05) and farm size (P≤0.1). The rate of technical substitution (RTS) of 0.88 indicates that acha production operates in Stage II of the production function, characterized by decreasing positive returns to scale. The resource use efficiency ratios indicated that seed, insecticide, and farm size were under-utilized, as their ratios were greater than one; while the ratio for fertilizer was less than one. Constraints to acha production were found to include insufficient funds (83.1%), soil infertility (72.1%) and manual method of harvesting (65.4%). It was concluded that acha farmers were efficient in the use of resources but not without opportunity for adjustment of input use to optimize production. Providing farmers with training on optimal input use and resource management can help in adjusting their practices according to the efficiency ratios was recommended, among others.
Downloads
References
Abdulrahman, S., Nasiru, M., Iliyasu, A. G., Ja,afar-Furo, & M. R., Baidu, M. (2015). Economics of Acha Production in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Researchjournali’s Journal of Agriculture, 2:12.
Ayo, J. A & Nkama I. (2006). A survey of the production, processing and Consumption of acha. International journal of food and Agricultural Research 3(1):
Bamire, B. S., Oluwasola, O. & Adesiyan A. J. (2007). Land Use and Socio-Economic Determinants of Technical Efficiency of Rice Farms in Osun State, Nigeria, in : Haruna, U., Jubril, A., Mancha, Y. P and Nasir, M. (eds)proceeding of the Nigerian Association of Agriculture Economics (NAAE), pp.27-35.
Duniya, K. P. (2014). Analysis of Technical Efficiency and Determinants of Acha (Digitaria exilis) Production in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Unpublished M. Sc. Thesis. ABU, Zaria 97pp
Gidado E.H. (2012). Resource-use efficiency in acha production: A case study of Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State Nigeria. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis. Federal University of Technology, Yola. 69pp.
Gidado E. H., Adebayo, E, F., Daniel J. D., & Alama M. K. (2013). Resource-use efficiency in acha production: A case study of Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State Nigeria. International Journal of Management and Social Science Research (IJMSSR). 2(6):8-12.
Jideani, I. A. (1999). Traditional and Possiible Technological Uses of Digitaria exilis (Acha) and Digitaria iburua. A review of Plants Food. Human Nutrition, 5(4):363-374.
Katanga, Y.N., Nasiru, A., Hudu, A.H., & Bose, A.A. (2015). Economics of Cassava Production and Marketing in Jigawa State, Nigeria. In: Haruna, U, Izge, A.U., Abdulhamid, A., Iliyasu, Y., Abdulrahman, S. L. and Katanga, Y.N.(eds). Agriculture: a renewed focus for economic development in Nigeria. A proceeding of the 29th annual conference of the Farm Manament Association of Nigeria, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State Nigeria. 23rd -26th November, pp. 224-228.
NPC. (2006). National Population Communication. Abuja, Nigeria.
Ogundari K, & Ojo S. O., (2006). An Examination of Technical, Economic and Allocative Efficiency of Small Farms: The Case Study of Cassava Farmers in Osun State of Nigeria. Journal of Central European Agriculture. 7(3):423-432.
Philip, T. K., & Isaac N. I. (2012). Demographic characteristics, agricultural and technological profile of acha Farmers in Nigeria. Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal, 14 (1): Manuscript No. 1933.
Smith, S. (2013). Determining Sample Size; How to Ensure You Get the Correct Sample Size. E-Book (c) Qualtrics Online Sample
Author(s) and co-author(s) jointly and severally represent and warrant that the Article is original with the author(s) and does not infringe any copyright or violate any other right of any third parties, and that the Article has not been published elsewhere. Author(s) agree to the terms that the GPH Journal will have the full right to remove the published article on any misconduct found in the published article.
