ABSTRACT
This study examined resource use efficiency among cassava farmers in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Information was gathered from 100 farmers and analyzed to describe the socio-economic characteristics and farming systems of farmers in the study area, estimate the cost implications and returns to cassava production, estimate the resource use efficiency and identify the constraints to increased cassava production in the study area.Two stage random sampling technique was used to select the villages and the farmers. The primary data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean, percentages, frequency distribution, farm budgetary analytical tools and stochastic frontier production function (Cobb-Douglas). It was found that majority (90%) of the farmers were educated and labor was the most expensive resource. The result further showed that about 6 bags of 50kg each of cassava tubers were realized by each farmer per hectare of farm land with total revenue of N316,863.8. The gross margin was N25,359.11, and the net returns was N23,113.651. The benefit cost ratio was 1.0787 which indicates that cassava production in the study area is fairly profitable. The results of the resource use efficiency estimation showed that land, stem cuttings, pesticides, fertilizer and family labor were all under-utilized. The results also showed that hired labor was overutilized. This shows that none of the resource used by the farmers was efficient. Thus, there is room for increased production if resources can be put to more efficient use.
The identified problems include lack of finance, unavailability of farming inputs, lack of technical information from government, pollution, climate and environmental changes. The study therefore recommended that government provide funds in form of grants or credit at low interest rates to farmers. Government should also make technical information on improved farming techniques and technologies available to farmers. Farm inputs should also be made available to farmers at cost effective prices. Policies that attempt to provide solutions to the imminent needs of farmers should be implemented. All these would help improve the resource use efficiency of farmers in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria.
