Abstract
This study examined the technical efficiency of maize production in Ogun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected for this study using a multistage sampling technique to select 100 maize farmers from the study area. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and stochastic production frontier. The socio-economic characteristics of respondents as evident from the data analysis revealed that 73% were males with an average age of 50.1 years. Most (85%) of them were married with average household size of 6 people. Also, 89.0% had below secondary school education and 84.8% were full time farmers while 55.0% were engaged in inter-cropping activities. The mean total variable cost per hectare was estimated as ₦109,599.17 per year while the mean total revenue per hectare was ₦111,436.00. The gross margin per hectare was estimated as ₦1, 836.83. The significant variables affecting maize production were seeds (α0.05), herbicide (α0.10), labour (α0.01), and farm size (α0.05), while the factors affecting inefficiency were household size (α0.05) and educational level (α0.01). The study recommended that provision should be made by governments and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector to provide farmers with access to affordable inputs such as seed, herbicides as well as making provision for alternative source of family labour.
Key words: Technical efficiency, maize production, Ogun State, Nigeria.
