EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTIVITY AMONG AGRI-FOOD ENTERPRENEURS : EVIDENCE FROM RICE PROCESSORS IN EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Productivity has been identified to be abysmally low in many agri-food enterprises. This study is an attempt todistil the factors that influence total factor productivity (TFP) among rice processors in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.Data were collected with the use of a structured questionnaire, administered to one hundred and twentyrespondents, who constitute the sample size for the study. Data analysis estimated total factor productivity indexand presented descriptively and use of the ordinary least square regression model. It was observed that 51% of theprocessors had productivity of 1.50 to 1.74 and the least (2%) from 1.00 to 1.24. An average value of 1.53 impliesthat an average rice processor made about 53 kobo for every one naira invested. The double-log form was chosenas the lead equation indicating coefficients of age, education, firm size, extension and credit directly related toproductivity, while gender, household size, capital inputs and experience were negative. The study therefore callfor policies aimed at training and re-training of rice processors and provision of credit at no or free interest rates toimprove productivity from the current average of 1.53 to avoid being in a productivity trap. This requires supportand incentive from government and other international donors to design programs for improved capacity of riceprocessors. There is also need for free or affordable training to enable processors access and process informationon innovations on rice processing for enhanced productivity