Technical Efficiency and Small Scale Maize Producers in Mwanza Region: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis

Authors

  • Mukole Kongolo Department of Economics, St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Mwanza, Tanzania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24203/ajafs.v9i3.6641

Keywords:

Maize, technical efficiency, small-scale producers, Mwanza Region, Tanzania.

Abstract

This study measured technical efficiency and its determinants in maize production by small-scale producers in Mwanza region, using a stochastic frontier production function approach. A randomly selected sample of participants in the two districts was used. The Maximum Likelihood estimation procedure was followed to obtain the determinants of technical efficiency and technical efficiency levels of small-scale maize producers. The minimum and maximum values of technical efficiency were between 20% and 91%, indicating that the least practices of specific producer operates at a minimum level of 20%, while the best practice producers  operate  at 91% technical efficiency  level respectively. The summary results of the mean technical efficiency was 63%. The main determinants of technical efficiency were labour, farm size, producer’s experience, producer’s age, family size which were all positive and statistically significant. The findings suggest that the average efficiency of small-scale maize producers could be improved by 37% through better use of existing resources and technology. These findings highlight the need for action by government to assist small-scale maize producers improve efficiency.

References

Abdulai, S., Nkegbe, P.K., & Donkoh, S. A. (2018). Assessing the technical efficiency of maize production in northern Ghana: The data envelopment analysis approach. Cogent Food and

and Agriculture, 4(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2018.1512390

Abdul-Rahaman, A. (2016). Stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) of technical efficiency, insights from smallholder cotton farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana. Global Journal of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Extension, 4 (1), 361-367.

Abedullah, K.B, & Ahmad, B. (2006). Technical efficiency and its determinants in potato production, Evidence from Punjab, Pakistan. The Lahore Journal of Economics, 11(2): 1-22.

Adzawla, W., Fuseini J. & Donkor, S.A. (2013). Estimating efficiency of cotton production in Yendi Municipality, Northern Ghana. Journal of Agricultural Sustainable, 4: 115-140

Astalin, P.K. (2013). Qualitative research design: A conceptual framework. International

Journal of Social Science and Interdisciplinary, 2(1), 118-124.

Aigner, D.J., Lovell, C.A.K. Schmidt, P. (1977). Formulation and estimation of stochastic frontier production models. Journal of Econometrics, 6: 21-37.

Amos, T.T. (2007). An analysis of technical efficiency of smallholder cocoa farmers in Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences, 15: 127-133.

Batesse, G.E. & Coelli, T.J. (1995). A Model for technical inefficiency effects in a stochastic frontier production function for Panel Data, Empirical Economics. 20:325-332.

Binam, N.J., Tonye, J., Wandji, N., Nyambi,. G. and Akoa, M. (2004). Factors affecting technical efficiency among smallholder farmers in the slash and burn agriculture Zone of Cameroon. Food Policy, 29:531-545.

Boundeth, S., Nanseki, T. & Takeuchi, S. (2012). Analysis on technical efficiency of maize farmers in the northern province of Laos. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 7(49), 6579-6587. 2012 DOI: 10.5897/AJAR12.1814

Bravo-Ureta, B.E. (2007). Technical efficiency in farming: A meta-regression analysis. Journal of Productivity Analysis, 27, 57–72.10.1007/s11123-006-0025-3

Coelli, T.J., Rao, D.S.P., Donnell, C.J. & Battese, G.E. (2005). An introduction to efficiency

And productivity analysis, Second Edition, Publisher: Springer Science+Business Media, Inc,

Spring Street, New York, NY10013, USA.

Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications

Cooper, W.W,. Seiford, L.M. and Zhu, J. (2011). Chapter 1: Data Envelopment Analysis: History, Models, and Interpretations. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-6151-8_1

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226038831_

Elibariki, E., Msuya, S.H. & Tatsuhiko, N. (2008). Explaining productivity variation among

smallholder maize farmers in Tanzania. Paper presented at the XII World Congress of

Rural Sociology of the International Rural Sociology Association, Goyang, Koreo.

FAO. (2015). The maize value chain in Tanzania: A report from the Southern Highlands Food Systems Programme. Retrieved from

http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ivc/PDF/SFVC/ Tanzania_maize.pdf

Hayatullah, A. (2017): Crop diversification and technical efficiency in Afghanistan: Stochastic frontier analysis, CREDIT Research Paper, No. 17/04, The University of Nottingham. Available at http://hdl.handle.net/10419/162749

Knoema.com/atlas. Com. (2020). United Republic of Tanzania - Maize for food. https://knoema.com/atlas/United-Republic-of-Tanzania/topics/Agriculture/Domestic-Supply-Food/Maize-for-food

Mango, N., Makate, C., Hanyani-Mlambo, B., Siziba, S., & Lundy, M. (2015). A stochastic frontier analysis of technical efficiency in smallholder maize production in Zimbabwe: The post-fast-track land reform outlook. Cogent Economics & Finance, Abingdon, 3(1), 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2015.1117189.pdf

Memon, N., Noonari, S., Wagan, H., Lakhio, M. H., & Wakeel, A. (2016). Analysis on Technical Efficiency of hybrid maize production in District Mirpurkhas, Sindh. Management and Organizational Studies, 3(2), 30-38. https://doi.org/10.5430/mos.v3n2p30

Meeusen, W. & Van den Broeck, J. (1977). Efficiency estimation from Cobb-Douglas production functions with composite error. International Economic Review. 18: 435 – 444.

Misaki, E., Apiola, M. & Gaiani, S. (2016). Technology for small scale farmers in Tanzania: A design Science Research Approach. EJISDC, 74 (4): 1 - 17

Ngogwe, A. & Kongolo, M, (2020). Resource use efficiency in maize production by small-scale farmers in two Districts of Mwanza Region, Tanzania. International Journal of Regional Development, 7 (1, 27): 28 – 39.

Shehu, J.F., Mshelia, S.I. & Tashikalma, A.K. (2007). Analysis of technical efficiency of small-scale rain-fed upland rice farmers in North-West Agricultural Zone of Adamawa state, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Sociological Sciences, 3(4):133-136.

URT. (1999). Mwanza Region Socio-Economic Profile. Joint Publication by Planning Commission Dar es Salaam and Regional Commissioner’s Office Mwanza. The United Republic of Tanzania. Retrieved from http://www.tzonline.org/pdf/Mwanza.pdf

URT. (2013). 2012 Population and housing census - Population Distribution by Administrative Areas. National Bureau of Statistics Ministry of Finance Dar es Salaam and Office of Chief Government Statistician, President’s Office. The United Republic of Tanzania. Retrieved from http://www.tzdpg.or.tz/fileadmin/documents/dpg_internal/dpg.pdf

World Bank. (2015). Agriculture global practice technical assistance Paper. Tanzania Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment World Bank Group Report Number 94883-TZ June.

Retrieved http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/248961468001158010/pdf/94883-Revised-Box39 3201B-Public-Tanzania-Ag-Risk-Assessment-web-6-29-15-JK-jtc.pdf

Downloads

Published

2021-06-30

How to Cite

Kongolo, M. (2021). Technical Efficiency and Small Scale Maize Producers in Mwanza Region: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.24203/ajafs.v9i3.6641

Issue

Section

Articles