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Dec 31, 2025Keywords:
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Cost Efficiency of Small-Scale Hamburger Bean (Mucuna sloanei) Production in Anambra State, Nigeria
Abstract
This study assessed the cost efficiency of small-scale hamburger bean (Mucuna sloanei) production in Anambra State, Nigeria. Multi-stage, simple random sampling was used to select 80 respondents, and primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire with enumerator assistance. The stochastic cost frontier model was employed to estimate cost efficiency and identify determinants of production costs. Socio-economic analysis showed that the majority of farmers were middle-aged (mean 46 years), married (63.75%), formally educated (81.25%), and had moderately sized households (mean 5 persons). Profitability analysis indicated an average annual revenue of ₦644,875.00, total cost of ₦350,158.27, and net return of ₦294,716.73. The stochastic frontier results revealed a high gamma (γ = 0.916, p < 0.01), indicating that 92% of the variation in production cost was due to allocative inefficiency. Key cost drivers included rent (p < 0.01), wage rate (p < 0.05), seedling price (p < 0.01), and herbicide (p < 0.01), while allocative inefficiency was significantly influenced by age (p < 0.01), gender (p < 0.10), and contract farming participation (p < 0.01). The mean allocative efficiency was 0.702, with a range of 0.14–0.92, implying that average farmers could improve efficiency by 29.35%. The study, therefore, concluded that hamburger bean farmers in the study area are moderately efficient but face substantial opportunities to reduce production costs and improve profitability through better resource allocation. It is recommended that farmers adopt improved input management practices, engage in contract farming, access extension services, and actively participate in farmers’ associations to enhance efficiency and maximize returns.
