Stochastic Profit Efficiency of Homestead based Cassava Farmers in Southern Nigeria

The study used Cobb-Douglas stochastic profit function to estimate farm-level profit function, economic efficiency and it determinants among homestead based cassava farmers in the south-south region of Nigeria. Two-stage random sampling method was used to select 300 homestead based cassava farmers in the study area. Maximum likelihood estimates of the specified models reveal an average economic efficiency of 61.22%. The study also found that farmer’s education, experience, household size, level of farming involvement, extension agent visit, soil management method adopted by farmers and farm size are significant factors affecting farm-level economic or profit efficiency in resource use among homestead based cassava farmers. Farm-level policies aimed at promoting farmer’s education, extension services and family planning among farmers as well as reduction in production constraints was recommended.