Analysis of factors influencing the technical efficiency of maize small-scale farmers of Kavango East Region

Abstract

This study analysed the factors affecting the technical efficiency of the small-scale maize farmers of Kavango East Region with the aim of generating reliable information about the level of technical efficiency and the factors affecting technical inefficiency of small-scale maize farmers. Cross-sectional data was collected from a total of 72 small-scale maize farmers located in four (4) different irrigation schemes in the Kavango East Region (i.e. Uvhungu Vhungu Green Scheme Project, Ndonga-Linena Green Scheme Project, Shadikongoro Green Scheme Project and Salem Irrigation Project). This number of small-scale maize farmers in the Kavango East region was relatively low, hence there was no need for sampling, and as such all the 72 farmers were interviewed. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire in formal face-to-face interviews. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to generate descriptive statistics from quantitative data. Stochastic Frontier Analysis technique was employed for analysing technical efficiency of the farmers and its determinants. From the empirical estimation, it was found that inorganic fertilisers are an important input that can increase maize productivity significantly. Seed and labour inputs were statistically insignificant in explaining maize production. The estimated value of γ, which is a parameter used to indicate the proportion of total variance attributed to technical inefficiency is 0.99 and significant. This means that 99% of the random variation in output of maize production is attributed to the technical inefficiency component, which indicates the importance of examining technical inefficiencies in maize production. The estimated mean technical efficiency score of the sample is 0.584 or 58.4%. This indicates that on average, the interviewed small-scale maize farmers are able to obtain only 58.4% of potential output from the given mix of production inputs. This finding suggests the presence of a considerable level of technical inefficiency of about 41.6% among the sampled farmers. While examining the determinants of technical efficiency, age, highest education attained, access to formal sources of credit, seed type, weeding frequency, extension office visit and training were found to be important factors affecting the technical efficiency of the small-scale maize farmers of Kavango East Region. The study, therefore, recommends enforcing extension service visits to the small-scale farmers more so that all small-scale farmers are up to date with the current, relevant and important farming information. The study also recommends improving farmers’ education through provision of continuous training programs to the farmers as well as follow up on the application of improved farming and farm management practices.