Resource Use Efficiency among Beneficiaries and Non-beneficiaries of Fadama Rice Project in Niger State, Nigeria

摘要

The study compared the resource use efficiency among beneficiary and non-beneficiary rice farmers of Fadama Project in Niger State, Nigeria. Data used for the study was obtained using structured questionnaire administered on 120 randomly selected rice farmers from both the beneficiary (60) and non-beneficiary (60) groups of Fadama Rice Project in the state. Technical and allocative efficiency estimates were obtained using stochastic frontier production function and marginal product approach, respectively.The study found that the technical efficiency of the Fadama group ranged between 0.41 and 1.00 with a mean value of 0.79 while that of the non-Fadama group ranged between 0.44 and on 0.98 with a mean value of 0.81 on the scale of one. The result of t-test showed that the difference between the mean scores of the two groups was not statistically significant. Allocative efficiency analysis also showed that the two groups under-utilized available resource inputs. Elite capture of the Fadama project as well as equal access to inputs except for Fadama Advisory Service and input supports may have explained the lack of significant difference in the mean scores of the two groups on technical and allocative efficiencies. The study recommends that the project implementation strategy should tackle the challenge of elite capture, inputs diversion, intensify advisory services/training and ensure the usage of high yielding seeds, labour saving technology and agro-chemicals for rice farmers.