Technical efficiency and its determinants in rice production: The case of small-scale rice growers in the Ejisu Juaben Municipality of Ghana

Lydia Akosua Amankwa; Adams Abdulai; Emmanuel Tetteh Jumpah

doi:10.36005/jplm.v2i2.64

Authors

Lydia Akosua Amankwa CSIR - Science and Technology Policy Research Institute, Box CT 519, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana.
Adams Abdulai S.D Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Department of Economics, P. O. Box WA64, Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana
Emmanuel Tetteh Jumpah Department of Economics and Development, Faculty of Tropical AgriScience, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague-Suchdol 16500, Czech Republic

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36005/jplm.v2i2.64

Keywords:

Determinants, Ghana , Technical efficiency, Rice production

Abstract

This study assessed the technical efficiency of smallholder rice growers in the Ejisu Juaben Municipality of Ghana and explained variations using the Stochastic Frontier Approach. Cross-sectional data were collected from 200 rice farmers using a structured questionnaire. The results showed that inefficiency exists as the mean technical efficiency was 55% implying that nearly half (45%) more output could be produced using the existing input levels if farmers were technically efficient. A scope, therefore, exists for increasing rice production. A wide range (11.7% to 98.4%) of technical production efficiency exists among the sampled rice farmers, showing the various levels of improvements expected to bring various farmers to operate on the frontier. Labour cost was revealed as the main constraint hindering the development of the rice sector. The main factors that positively and significantly explain the level of variation in efficiency production were membership to a Farmer-Based Organization (FBO), access to improved varieties, and access to credit. Furthermore, gender, farmer experience, and contact with extension services negatively influence the efficiency performance of farmers. Encouraging farmers to form FBOs is recommended, as this will make credit more available to farmers and improve access to community-based extension services.

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Author Biographies

Lydia Akosua Amankwa, CSIR - Science and Technology Policy Research Institute, Box CT 519, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana.

Adams Abdulai, S.D Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Department of Economics, P. O. Box WA64, Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana

Emmanuel Tetteh Jumpah, Department of Economics and Development, Faculty of Tropical AgriScience, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague-Suchdol 16500, Czech Republic

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