RESOURCE USE EFFICIENCY OF PEPPER PRODUCTION IN TAKUM AND DONGA LGAs OF TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

The study analyzed Resource use efficiency of pepper production in Takum and Donga LGAs of Taraba State. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of pepper farmers, estimate the costs and returns associated with pepper production, determine resource use efficiency of pepper farming, and identify the major constraints associated with pepper production in the study area. Data were collected from 134 pepper farmers in the 2021/2022 cropping season using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting techniques, inferential statistics and the Likert scale. The findings showed that most of the pepper farmers (78.3%) were within the age range of 15 to 45 years, with majority (82.1% being) male, and most (85.07%) having a household size of between 1-10 persons. The venture gave a gross margin of ₦451,250 per hectare and the return on every naira invested was 1.22 which showed that pepper production in the area was profitable. The results on factors influencing pepper production indicated that labour and fertilizer were statistically significant at 1% level while agrochemical at 10%. The results also indicated that labour was underutilized while fertilizer and agrochemical were over utilized. Major constraints identified were lack of extension services and credit facilities. It was recommended that emphases be made in improving the educational and cultural characteristics of farmers in the area because it influences efficiency greatly. It was further recommended that, trainings on how to utilize farm inputs and formation of viable cooperative societies that will link up farmers to sources of credits and inputs are equally imperative.