Abstract
This paper examines the efficiency of two rice producer groups in Kassena–Nankana Municipality, the upper east region of Ghana. Comparing the efficiencies of the two rice producer groups will help to recognize the group capable of utilizing their fewer inputs while increasing productivity. The first farmer group practices irrigation and the second group engage in rain fed agriculture. Normally, Ghanaian farmers do not irrigate crops. The first farmer group received NGO support in building water reservoirs for irrigating community’s farms. This research applied the Total Factor Productivity methodology to examine the level of efficiency between these two groups in the 2015-2016 cropping season. Regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between farmers’ production and their inputs. Other social variables such as age, education, access to extension officers and years of farming experience were also compared with farmers’ production to know their level of significance. The multi-stage sampling procedure was used to obtain 150 small-holder farmers. The mean efficiency estimate for farms under irrigation was 63% while that of rain fed was 36%. The results give evidence of inefficiency in rice production existing among rain fed farmers. This implies that on average, irrigation farmers could reduce their farm inputs by 37% and still produce the current level of output. The factors that influenced farmers’ efficiency were age, education and years of experience. Rice production could improve if younger farmers learn from the knowledge of experienced farmers.
Author Information
Kofi Kyei, University of Tsukuba, Japan
Matsui Kenichi, University of Tsukuba, Japan
Paper Information
Conference: IICSEEHawaii2018
Stream: Education, Sustainability & Society: Social Justice, Development & Political Movements
This paper is part of the IICSEEHawaii2018 Conference Proceedings (View)
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