Abstract

The study evaluated the technical efficiency and inefficiencies of rice farmers in Afikpo-North Local government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria; noted as a major rice producing community in the country and assessed the constraining factors to the enterprise. Multistage random sampling was used to collect data from 120 rice farmers in the study Area. The stochastic frontier production function was used to investigate and analyse the technical efficiency and inefficiencies of these farmers and the likert scale in assessing the constraining factors militating against rice production in the study Area. The results showed that the enterprise was experiencing increasing returns though operating mainly as smallholder concerns and within the first stage of a typical production function surface. Household size and educational attainment were factors that affected efficiency levels. The study revealed there were several constraining factors to rice production in the study Area which comprised inputs insufficiency, poor infrastructure and limited access to credits amongst others.

Keywords

Rice; Production; Technical Efficiency; Constraining Factors