Abstract

The technical efficiency of yam farmers in Ogbomosho Agricultural Zone, Oyo State was analyzed in this study using the Stochastic Frontier Production Model. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select the 135 yam farmers used for the study. A set of questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function. The result of the study revealed that the technical efficiency of the farmers range from 0.052 – 1.000 with a mean of 61.79%. This indicates ample opportunity for the farmers to increase their productivity through improvement in their technical efficiency. Farm size (2.004; p<0.01) and labour (0.679; p<0.05) were found to be statistically significant and positively related to farmers output while educational level (-0.615; p<0.1); farming experience (-2.949: p<0.01); and off-farm income (-0.823; p<0.1) of the respondents negatively influenced farmers’ technical inefficiency. The farmers therefore need to increase their output level through more intensive use of land and labour resources, as well as acquiring higher educational endowment for better farming practice and technology adoption.