Productivity and Technical Efficiency among Beneficiary Farmers of Second National Fadama Project in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluates the productivity and technical efficiency among beneficiary farmers of Second National Fadama project in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Data for analysis were obtained from two hundred and six project beneficiary and non beneficiary farmers respectively. Descriptive statistic, pie chart and stochastic frontier production function were used for the data analysis. The study revealed that fertilizer and pumping machine rated high among the Fadama II project facilities used by the beneficiary farmers. Evidence from the stochastic production analysis shows that Farm size, fertilizer and hired labour were highly significant (1%) in determining the output of project beneficiaries, while chemical, farm size and fertilizer were significant at 1% respectively in determining the output of the non-beneficiary farmers in the study area. The mean technical efficiency of the project beneficiary was higher (92%) than the mean technical efficiency (48%) of the non-beneficiaries. Age, educational level, Fadama farming experience and access to credit were positively related to technical efficiency of project beneficiary at 1% respectively. The study recommends policies that aimed at improving beneficiaries’ access to credit, timely distribution of productive inputs. This in turn would help the country to ensure all year round food production and reduction in poverty level among its populace.