Efficiency of resource-use in Cassava production in Edo state, Nigeria

This study employed the use of the Maximum Likelihood Estimation Technique in estimating the efficiency of resource-use in cassava production in Edo State. Data used for the study were sourced through the cost-route method of data collection, based on a stratified random sampling technique. The average farm size of the farmers in the study area was 2.3 hectares, which indicates that, on the average, cassava farmers in Edo State are smallholder farmers. Estimates of efficiency of resource-use were 7.58 0.90 0.32 and 1.35 for land, hired labour, family labour and planting materials respectively. This indicates that none of the inputs was efficiently utilized, as none equated to unity. While land and planting materials were under-utilized, labour (both family and hired) was over-utilized. The implication of this is that cassava farmers in Edo State can operate more profitably by increasing their farm size and quantity (and quality) of planting materials used while reducing the number of manual labour (through increased use of labour saving machines). br> Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol. 3 (2) 2005: pp.14-2