Resource use efficiency of plantain production in Eket agricultural zone, Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria: a stochastic frontier production functions approach

A study on efficiency of plantain production in Eket Agricultural Zone, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria: a stochastic frontier production function approach was carried out. Multi stage sampling technique was used in the selection of 150 plantain farmers. Primary data were collected from sampled plantain farmers using validated structured questionnaires and personal interview by the researcher. Data obtained were analyzed using parametric stochastic frontier model. Result of analysis indicated that the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) of the frontier function revealed that(δ²) 1.066 and (y) 0.983 were significant at 1% level (P <0.01), indicating a good fit and correctness of the specified distribution assumption of the composite error term. The result revealed that all the estimated coefficients of the variables of the production function were positive except equipment cost and fungicide. The findings indicate that the number of suckers planted with estimated positive elasticity of 0.926 was the most important factor influencing plantain output, emphasizing the need for farmers to use adequate quantities of healthy, high-quality planting materials. The estimated positive elasticity of farm size (0.089), labour (0.0111), and fertilizer (0.0207) show also that these factors contribute positively to production, although their effects are relatively small. The negative elasticity of fungicide (-0.0772) and equipment cost (-0.0156) which could be attributed to inappropriate or excessive application of fungicides and high cost of equipment reflecting inefficient use of equipment respectively. Overall, with the decreasing returns to scale (RTS 0.967), the study recommended that further increases in production should focus not only on expanding input use but also on improving input efficiency, management practices, and technology adoption to achieve higher productivity.