Resource use efficiency of broiler production in Owerri Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria

The study analysed the resource use efficiency of broiler production in Owerri rural agricultural zone, Imo State. Data for the study were collected using structured questionnaire, administered to 120 broiler farmers who were selected using two stage sampling techniques. Data were analysed using descriptive and econometric tools such as ordinary least square regression analysis to estimate the production function of the broiler farmers and allocative efficiency model to determine the resource use efficiency of the farm inputs in broiler production. The results showed that stock size, labour and depreciation were significant for output of broiler at 1 and 5% respectively. The results further showed that resources used to produce broiler were not efficiently and effectively utilized, most of the resources were either overutilized or underutilized in the production of broilers in the study area. The factors of production such as fixed assets (-54.31) and expenses on feed (-6.16) were overused while stock size (27.82), labour (630.47), and drugs/vaccines (5.7496) were underused. The results also showed that the returns to scale of broiler production was 1.055, showing an increase of 1% input used in the production will lead to a proportionate increase of 0.06% in the broiler output. The need to educate the farmers in the study area on the efficient use of farm input resources to achieve optimum output and increase profit was recommended. It was also recommended that government should provide long term credit access to broiler farmers to enable them to allocate resources more efficiently for optimal production.