I. U. Odoemenem ¹, J. O. Alimba ², K. N. N. Ezike ²

Affiliations
1 Center for Food and Agricultural Strategy, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, NG
2 Deptt. of Agricultural Economics, Management & Extension, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, NG

Abstract

Mobilizing capital resources and ensuring their efficient utilization have been a major issue facing small-scale farmers of Nigeria. This study examined the capital resource mobilization methods and allocation efficiency of small-scale cereal crop farmers in Benue State. Three hundred and seventy small-scale cereal crop farmers were selected from six local government areas of Benue State and studied using a multistage sampling technique. Field data were collected using structured questionnaire which was administered to 378 farmers as interview schedules. The data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, of stochastic frontier production function model. The findings of the study indicated that the cultivated farm sizes of the surveyed cereal crop farmers ranged between 0.5 hectares and 10 hectares with a mean of 3.01 hectares. Further analysis indicated that the sum of the coefficients of the significant variables of the stochastic frontier cost model (0.75) was less than unity implying decreasing return to scale. This implies that the farmers are operating at the second stage of the classical production function, indicating that the farmers are efficiently utilizing the capital resources mobilized. The estimated sigma squared (0.63) was significantly different from zero at the 1% level while the magnitude of variance ratio was estimated to be high at 0.83, thus confirming the relevance of the stochastic frontier model used. Majority of the cereal crop farmers (73%) operated at an allocative efficiency range of between 1.1 and less than 1.2. This suggests that most of the respondents operated at high efficiency levels in allocating capital resources mobilized.

Keywords

Agricultural Production, Allocative Efficiency, Capital Resource Mobilization, Economy, Small Scale Farmers, Benue State, Nigeria

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I. U. Odoemenem ¹, C. P. O. Obinne ²

Affiliations
1 Centre for Food & Agri. Strategy
2 Dept. of Agri. Extension & Communication, Univ. of Agriculture, Makurdi, NG

Abstract

This paper identifies the major factors influencing the level of adoption of improved cereal crop production technologies in Nigeria. Intensity of extension contact, amount and use of credit, cooperative membership, all of which are institutional in nature, were found to be most important factors influencing the adoption of improved cereal crop production technologies. Data were collected from six Local Government Areas of Benue State through interview conducted among a total of 370 small-scale cereal crop farmers. The data were analyzed using descriptive and multiple regression statistics. Adoption of improved technology packages may, in part, be related to the way farmers receive the technologies introduced to them. The important factors in such a perception are the difficulties inherent in using a practice; the consistency or how adaptable the practice is in the context of the existing practices in which the farmers are already familiar with; and the expectations of the farmers using the practice.

Keywords

Small-scale Farmers, Innovation, Adoption, Nigeria

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