Pathways to Improve Energy Efficiency and Minimize Environmental Footprints of GHG Emission of Energy Inputs used in Cowpea Production in Niger State of Nigeria

Increasing population level and food demand around the world has made producers and policy makers to utilize scientific models and techniques for taking sustainability into consideration. Energy as an important ingredient in all production systems has been focused for the production process of cowpea in Niger State of Nigeria. The study investigated optimal input use for cowpea producers using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach. The analysis found that 14 and 19 units are efficient in CCR and BCC models, respectively, and mean values of technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency scores were 0.86, 0.90 and 0.96, respectively. Manure, inorganic fertilizers and biocides were identified as the most inefficient inputs used. The results also revealed that approximately 28.37% of total energy input resources can be saved if the farmers follow the input package recommended by the DEA and by energy optimization total GHG emission can be reduced. Policies should emphasize on development of new technologies to substitute agro-chemical with renewable energy sources towards efficient energy use and lowering environmental footprints of GHG emissions resulting in sustainable food production systems.