TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF BAMBARA NUT PRODUCTION IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

There is a gap between actual and potential output of Bambara nut due to inefficient use of existing resources, thereby hindering profit maximization. Therefore, this study aims at determining the technical efficiency of Bambara nut production in Niger State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to randomly select 150 representatives of Bambara nut producers in the study area. Primary data were obtained using structured interview schedule. Stochastic frontier production function was used to analyze the data collected. Results showed that four out of the five variables included in the efficiency model, namely: farm size, seed, labour and herbicide were statistically and positively significant at 1%, 10%, 10% and 10% respectively. Fertilizer was not significant. Similarly, the factors affecting Bambara nut production in the study area as shown by the inefficiency model were age, education and farming experience. In addition, the mean efficiency of the respondents was 0.71. The study concluded that Bambara nut production in the study area was efficient. However, there are prospects of increasing production efficiency by 29% using existing inputs and technologies. It was therefore concluded that Bambara nut farmers in the study area should be encouraged to join existing cooperatives or form new ones so as to benefit from various incentives such as economies of scale, access to formal credit facilities, linkage with product buyers, among others. In addition, they should engage in rotational communal labour.