Title: ESTIMATION OF TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY AMONG SMALLHOLDER MAIZE FARMERS IN UGANDA: A CASE STUDY OF MASINDI DISTRICT OF UGANDA
Abstract: The Ugandan government, NGOs and the private sector in recent years have embarked on supporting poor small-scale farmers to alleviate poverty through transformation of low input/output subsistence farming to commercially competitive agriculture. Support included extension services, input subsidies and demonstration plots of specific crops including maize. However, there is little information on the impact of such support on technical efficiency of maize farmers in Uganda, especially in Masindi District where the crop is a major source of income among poor rural households. Therefore, this study estimated technical efficiency (T.E) and its’ determinants in three sub counties in Masindi District were selected namely, Kigumba, Pakanyi and Miria, covering a total sample of 170 maize farmers. Findings indicated that most farmer were men with an average age of 41 years, mean household size of 7 people, married and primary school dropouts. On average, they owned 2.48 ha of land, planted improved maize varieties, harvested 1860.77 Kg/ha and sold their produce at the farm gate. On average, 57% of smallholder maize farmers were operating above 60% technical efficiency. Determinants that had positive relationship with T.E included group membership, household size, respondent’s spouse education level, respondent’s spouse major occupation and variety of seed planted. Selling at the farm gate was found to have a significant negative relationship with technical efficiency. Therefore, among other factors, there is need to consider all determinants of T.E based on the signs and magnitude of coefficients for increased productivity of maize farmers in
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 4
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