ABSTRACT
This study determines the technical efficiency level and
socioeconomic characteristics that influence the technical efficiency of yellow
pepper farmers. Stochastic Frontier function that incorporated inefficiency
factors was estimated using a Maximum Likelihood technique to provide estimates
of technical efficiency and its determinants using data obtained from 60 Nsukka
Yellow pepper farmers in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. The result shows that
the mean technical efficiency was 70 percent indicating the need for
improvement in efficiency level for additional 30 percent. The result also
indicates that the respondents are operating in the rational stage (stage II)
of production as indicated by the return to scale of 0.797. The empirical
findings also show that age, number of years spent in formal education, family
size and farming experience are important socio-economic determinants of the
respondents’ level of efficiency. Farming experience had positive influence on
the respondents’ level of efficiency. It was recommended that rural women
should be effectively mobilized for full participation in the production of
Nsukka yellow pepper through the use of extension agents and community leaders,
provision of farm inputs through establishment of channels that will enable
farmer access credit facilities and review of land use act to give the rural
farmers access to land.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of
the Study
Small-scale farmers occupy a
central position in Nigeria’s agricultural policy (Ajibefun and Abdukadri,
2004). Agricultural activities in Nigeria seem to be shouldered by small-scale
farmers who mostly live in rural communities. These farmers are poor and tend
to practice production system that may not utilize resources efficiently.
Small-scale farmers are
constrained by lack of credit, which translates to inadequacy of working
capital (Kibaara, 2005). This in part brings about the vicious cycle of poverty.
The theory of vicious cycle of poverty tries to explain the reason for poor
investment of resources (agricultural), which leads to poor output and the
consequent low income. However, increment in agricultural output does not
depend on heavy investment of agricultural resources. To achieve possible
optimum agricultural output from a given set of resources, farmers are
confronted with the challenges of increasing the agricultural productivity in
an attempt to feed the ever growing population by using resources efficiently.
Resources are of paramount
importance in agriculture and these include land, labour, capital and
management. The profitability of an agricultural enterprise hinges on efficient
utilization of resources needed and available to such enterprise. Clear
understanding of resource use patterns by farmers and their adjustment to
external factors are necessary for increase in the productivity of agricultural
resources (Amaza and Olayemi, 2002). Efficiency of resource use may be defined
as the extent to which a given set of resources are being allocated across uses
or activities in a manner that maximizes whatever value they tend to produce
such as output, market value or utility . Therefore, the efficiency of a farm
as a production unit is how effectively it uses resources for the purpose of
profit or output maximization.
Rural farmers in Enugu North
agricultural zone (Nsukka area) of Enugu State are small-scale farmers with
variety of constraints. These constraints include resource availability, resource
allocation and difficulties in controlling resources in production process
(Awoke and Okorji,
2004). It is expected that these constraints do affect the
production of Nsukka yellow pepper in the area.
Pepper is an important
vegetable in most societies and plays a significant role in our everyday food.
Today, peppers are grown (Capsicum spp) widely in many countries,
Nigeria inclusive and it forms an integral part of local cuisine. It adds
flavour, colour and pungency to several delicacies. The interest in pepper
extends to its nutritional and medicinal values in that peppers are recognized
sources of vitamins C and E and are high in antioxidants. These compounds are
associated with prevention of cardiovascular disorders, cancers and cataracts.
In addition, it can be used for preservation of cowpea against weevil attack
(Echezona, 2006).
The
varieties of pepper prevalently grown in Nigeria include:
• Cayenne
pepper or red pepper – ‘Sombo’ ( Capsicum frutescence)
• ‘Atarodo’
( Capsicum annum )
• ‘Tatase’
( Capsicum annum )
• Nsukka
Yellow pepper (Capsicum annum)
Nsukka yellow pepper popularly
referred to as “Ose Nsukka” owes its name to its characteristic yellow
colour and the area it is popularly grown. Nsukka yellow pepper is an important
commercial fruit vegetable. Its cultivation forms a major and sometimes the
only agricultural activity of rural women in Enugu state (Onwubuya et al,
2008).
1.2 Problem
Statement
Pepper production in Nigeria
has not attracted the same research patronage like the following crop: cassava,
cocoa, rice, to mention a few. The area, the production and yield data are
difficult to come by. Regrettably, Nsukka yellow pepper production is towing
the same line. Few or no medium and large scale farmer has invested in it.
Research interest in it is insignificant. This obviously can be explained by
the dearth of records and results from research findings to convince the medium
and large scale farmers on the need to engage in Nsukka yellow pepper
production by a way of elucidating to them the economic viability of such
enterprise. This development has culminated in the bulk of its production to be
in the hands of small-holder farmers. Small-holder farmers according to Awoke
and Okorji, (2004) are farmers whose production capacity falls between 2.5 and
5 hectares per cropping season....
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