Technical Efficiency of Rice Production at the Tono Irrigation Scheme in Northern Ghana

Aim: To investigate the determinants of technical efficiency of rice farmers at Tono Irrigation Project. Study Design: Cross sectional. Place and Duration: The Kassena-Nankana District of Upper East Region of Ghana in the 2007/2008 cropping season. Methodology: One-step estimation of the Stochastic Frontier Model. Results: The technical efficiency estimates ranged from 0.41 to 1.00 with a mean value of 0.81. The factors that determined farmers’ technical efficiency included education and the adoption of modern inputs such as seeds and chemical fertilizers. Conclusion: The sustainability of the farmers’ high efficiency will be dependent on the continuous support they receive in the areas of input supply and education, among others