Efficiency Analysis of the Sub-Saharan African small-scale Agriculture: A Review of Literature on Technical Efficiency of Maize Production

Abstract

Increasingly, maize is becoming a staple food for many Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, and hence, it is regarded important in mitigating increasing incidences of hunger and famine in the region. This article reviews and compares literature related to farm level technical efficiency of small-scale maize production among countries of the SSA. A total of 17 studies from 11 different countries were examined. At least 2 studies related to small-scale maize farmers' technical efficiency were drawn from 6 countries, East African region being the most represented. Presentations of discussions were divided into three regions namely the West Africa, the East Africa, and the Southern Africa regions, respectively. Maize productivity in the Sub-Saharan region seem to be low, South Africa scoring only 4.37 tonnes/ha of maize far less than the potential grain yield of maize ranging between 7 tonnes/ha to 12 tonnes/ha. This prompts the region to import more grains to meet its domestic demand. The average technical efficiency (TE) index from all the studies reviewed is 70%. Although South Africa as a country had the highest average score of technical efficiency index (98%), West Africa as a region had the highest score of 82%, followed by Southern Africa region with 72%, and East African region scored only 57% on average. Overall technical efficiency scores suggest that there is considerable room to maximize agricultural output with the available resources and without changing the existing technologies. All reviewed studies sought to explain socioeconomic factors responsible for farm level variation in TE. Family farm labour (household size), availability of maize markets, improved seed variety, use of agro-chemical, access to farm credit, off-farm incomes and group membership were key outstanding socioeconomic factors that had a positive and significant impact on technical efficiency in the SSA region. For increased maize output and reduced budgets on maize imports, the region needs to focus and catalyse policies related to strengthening research and dissemination of technologies on maize breeding, labour saving technologies, growth in agro-industry, strengthening farmer cooperatives and maize markets, and strengthening of farmers' savings and credit facilities.