Allocative and Cost Efficiency of Rice Farmers using Local and Improved Seed Technologies: Evidence from North Central Nigeria
Abstract
The study evaluated the allocative and cost efficiency of rice farmers using local and improved seed technologies: evidence from North Central, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique to choose a total sample size of two hundred and thirty-four (234) rice farmers which comprises 88 and 146 smallholder farmers who cultivated local and improved rice seeds, respectively. Primary data were used with the aid of well-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The socio-economic profile reveals a farming population in their early 40s, predominantly male, with significant farming experience (averaging 14–17 years) and high levels of membership in cooperative societies. While both groups have relatively small landholdings (approximately 2.0 hectares), those utilizing improved rice seeds generally have higher annual incomes from other farming activities and higher levels of formal education compared to those using local seeds. The mean cost efficiency for local seed users (1.319) and improved seed users (1.582) suggests that improved seed users actually face higher relative costs to produce a given unit of output, likely due to the higher prices of inputs like agrochemicals and seeds. The stochastic frontier cost function indicates that the improved seed users operate at a lower mean allocative efficiency (0.65) compared to local seed users (0.67). The stochastic frontier cost function indicates that rent on land, agrochemicals, labour, and seeds significantly drove production costs, while inefficiency was significantly reduced by higher education levels but increased by larger household sizes. The regression results for allocative efficiency highlighted that farming experience, sex, and farm size significantly influenced local seed users, whereas household size was a critical factor for improved seed users. The study recommended targeted subsidies on improved rice seed and other farm inputs such as fertilizer and should be made available to smallholder farmers with specialized extension services increase productivity and efficiency.
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References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Precision Agriculture Technologies, Zootechny (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
June 2, 2026
Submission Date
March 10, 2026
Acceptance Date
April 9, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 9