Technical Efficiency of Small-Scale Maize Producers in Benin
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Date
2021-07-12
Authors
Aminou, Fawaz A. Adéchinan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Economic Research Consortium
Abstract
Given the importance of maize as a food crop in Benin and the objectives
of the country regarding this product in terms of food security and exports,
a study on maize production is of primary importance. This study aims to
analyse the way small-scale maize producers allocate their production factors
and to identify the elements that are inherent to an efficient maize farming
operation. The Cobb-Douglas Stochastic Frontier approach is used to estimate
the level of technical efficiency of maize growers. The mean score in technical
efficiency in maize production in the sample used is estimated at 65.40%, with a minimum of 20.47% and a maximum of 93.46%. The results indicate that the sex
of the farmer, use of enhanced seeds, the selling price of maize, the percentage
share of non-agricultural income, contact with an Non-Governmental Organization
(NGO), access to finance, and the production zone play a positive and significant
role in the attainment of a production frontier. The results lead us to recommend
that the government reduces its expenditure on agricultural extension services and
instead emphasize the policy on distribution of improved seeds. Equally, constraints
in the capital and labour markets contribute to the low efficiency of agricultural
households.