Abstract

This study examined the productivity and technical efficiency (TE) of egg production in Tanzania under the intensive system. A multistage random sampling procedure was employed for selecting 80 respondents from two districts; Kibaha and Ilala. This study utilizes the most recent developments in stochastic frontier modeling as specified for a one-step process in Limdep software. Results indicated that the mean TE of egg production is 64%, ranging from 4 to 90%. Egg production was in the rational stage of production (stage II) as depicted by the returns to scale (RTS) of about 1.3. Thus, there is room for improving TE, which will raise net returns of egg production enterprises, hence, improving livelihoods of farmers and their families.

Key words: Technical efficiency, intensive, egg production, stochastic frontier, Tanzania.