DETERMINANTS OF TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SMALL - SCALE BROILER PRODUCTION ENTERPRISES IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study analyzed the technical efficiency of small-scale broiler production in Benue State, Nigeria. Purposive and simple random sampling technique was employed to select 205 respondents during the 2015 and 2016 session. The data for the study were obtained using structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as stochastic frontier production function were used to achieve the objectives of this study. Result indicated that the mean technical efficiency was 0.76 which suggest that the broiler farmers were not technically efficient and there exist scope for improvement in the level of technical efficiency. The results also showed that the respondents were not scale efficient in their broiler production activities. High costs of feed, inadequate fund and disease control were the major constraints that are faced by farmers. The study recommended that credit should be made available to broiler farmers by both private and public financial institutions at low interest rates to enhance increase in flock size.