Resource Use Efficiency in Maize Production by Small-Scale Farmers in Two Districts of Mwanza Region, Tanzania

Abstract

This study investigates the resource use efficiency in the production of maize by small-scale farmers in Mwanza region. Specifically, the study seeks to determine what the resources that farmers use in maize production and also seeks to determine the challenges that farmers face in maize production in the study area. This study was conducted in two districts of Mwanza region. In each of the district, the study sampled three wards and randomly selected twelve small-scale farmers from each of the three wards selected. In total 72 small-scale farmers were selected from whom the data was collected. A Cobb-Douglas production function was used to fit and analyse the data for its good fit. The R² was 0.77, indicating that 77 percent of the variation in dependent variable was explained by the independent variables of the model. The use of inputs in the production of maize was noted to be increasing returns to scale. The results indicated that variables land (X1), labour (X2), age (X6), and experience (X8) were all positive and significant at the 1% while soil preparation (X4) variable was negative but significant at the 5%. The major constraints to maize production included lack of fertilizer (manure), finance (capital) and access to land. The study concluded that more exposure of small-scale farmers to frequent extension services is important to assist them to produce efficiently.