Estimation of technical efficiency of maize farmers in Wa East District in Ghana: translog stochastic frontier approach

Efficiency analysis among maize farmers is crucial, especially when maize output continues to decline, even under improved technology. The aim of this study was to estimate the level of technical efficiency among maize farmers in Wa East District in Ghana and to assess the determinants of their technical efficiency. Data were collected from 273 household heads using the multistage sampling method. The study applied the stochastic translog production function to do the estimation and assessment. The results revealed a variation of 60.2%–89.5% efficiency levels among maize farmers. In addition, maize farmers achieved about 71.5% of the required technical competences. Factors contributing significantly were labour, land, age, farming experience, household size, hired labour and seed quality. The results showed an increasing returns-to-scale parameter being significantly different from unit. Recommendations are improvement in the capacity of farmers by agriculture extension service and accessibility of farmers to affordable production inputs in real time.