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Technical Efficiency of Hausa Potato (<i>Solesnostemon rotundifolius Poir</i>) Production in Southern Kaduna State, Nigeria


EA Dung
OA Akinkpelu
AO Olojede
GN Asumugha
HY Ibrahim
DM Lenka
CO Amadi

Abstract

This study was designed to measure the level of technical efficiency, its determinants in Hausa potato production and the constraints in the production system in southern parts of Kaduna State using a stochastic frontier production function. A random sampling technique was used to select 60 Hausa potato farmers for Samaru Zone of Kaduna State ADP. The estimated farm level technical efficiency ranges from 21 to 88% with a mean of 55%. This wide range in technical efficiency indicates that great opportunities exist for the farmers to increase their productivity and income through improvement in technical efficiency. Education, years of experience and marketing cost were found to be positively and significantly related to technical efficiency while lack of capital, inadequate planting material, lack of knowledge in cultural management practices and poor storage facilities were found to be major constraints in the production of the crop in the study area. Hausa potato production is female dominated.

Key words: Hausa potato, Technical efficiency, Frontier production function


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print ISSN: 0300-368X