ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SNAIL FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Assessing the relative performance of the processes used in transforming given inputs into output is key to increasing agricultural productivity and enhancing food security and income. This study therefore examined the technical efficiency of snail farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. Simple random sampl...

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Main Authors: Onwuchekwa Raphael IHEKE, Nkechi Favour NWANKWO
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Bucharest 2016-01-01
Series:Scientific Papers Series : Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development
Online Access:https://managementjournal.usamv.ro/pdf/vol.16_1/Art31.pdf
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author Onwuchekwa Raphael IHEKE
Nkechi Favour NWANKWO
author_facet Onwuchekwa Raphael IHEKE
Nkechi Favour NWANKWO
author_sort Onwuchekwa Raphael IHEKE
collection DOAJ
description Assessing the relative performance of the processes used in transforming given inputs into output is key to increasing agricultural productivity and enhancing food security and income. This study therefore examined the technical efficiency of snail farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents used for the study. Primary data, collected using structured questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and maximum likelihood estimation procedure using the computer software frontier version 4.1. Results showed that the significant factors influencing output of the snail farmers were stock size, labour, feed and capital. The significant determinants of technical efficiency of the snail farmers were age of the farmer (P = 0.05), educational attainment (P = 0.05), farming experience (P = 0.01), extension contact (P = 0.05), and cooperative membership (p = 0.01). The result also showed that majority (52%) of the snail farmers have an efficiency of between 61 – 80%, with the least efficient and most efficient farmers having efficiencies of 41.6% and 99.9% respectively. The mean level of efficiency was 75.6%. It was recommended that in order to enhance the efficiency and thus productivity of snail farms, policies that would encourage the youths to go into farming should be put in place. In addition, educational and training programmes should be organized regularly for the farmers as well as strengthening the extension services delivery system to provide the farmers the needed information on improved farming practices and innovations.
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spelling doaj-art-7650d43ef9fc4187a7f9ec08273078ad2025-08-20T02:07:15ZengUniversity of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, BucharestScientific Papers Series : Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development2284-79952285-39522016-01-011612052123225ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SNAIL FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIAOnwuchekwa Raphael IHEKENkechi Favour NWANKWOAssessing the relative performance of the processes used in transforming given inputs into output is key to increasing agricultural productivity and enhancing food security and income. This study therefore examined the technical efficiency of snail farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents used for the study. Primary data, collected using structured questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and maximum likelihood estimation procedure using the computer software frontier version 4.1. Results showed that the significant factors influencing output of the snail farmers were stock size, labour, feed and capital. The significant determinants of technical efficiency of the snail farmers were age of the farmer (P = 0.05), educational attainment (P = 0.05), farming experience (P = 0.01), extension contact (P = 0.05), and cooperative membership (p = 0.01). The result also showed that majority (52%) of the snail farmers have an efficiency of between 61 – 80%, with the least efficient and most efficient farmers having efficiencies of 41.6% and 99.9% respectively. The mean level of efficiency was 75.6%. It was recommended that in order to enhance the efficiency and thus productivity of snail farms, policies that would encourage the youths to go into farming should be put in place. In addition, educational and training programmes should be organized regularly for the farmers as well as strengthening the extension services delivery system to provide the farmers the needed information on improved farming practices and innovations.https://managementjournal.usamv.ro/pdf/vol.16_1/Art31.pdf
spellingShingle Onwuchekwa Raphael IHEKE
Nkechi Favour NWANKWO
ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SNAIL FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
Scientific Papers Series : Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development
title ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SNAIL FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
title_full ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SNAIL FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
title_fullStr ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SNAIL FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
title_full_unstemmed ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SNAIL FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
title_short ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SNAIL FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
title_sort analysis of the technical efficiency of snail farmers in abia state nigeria
url https://managementjournal.usamv.ro/pdf/vol.16_1/Art31.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT onwuchekwaraphaeliheke analysisofthetechnicalefficiencyofsnailfarmersinabiastatenigeria
AT nkechifavournwankwo analysisofthetechnicalefficiencyofsnailfarmersinabiastatenigeria