Gender Analysis of Allocative Efficiency in Small Scale Maize Production in Kogi State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study examined gender analysis of allocative efficiency in small scale maize production in Kogi State, Nigeria. The primary data for the study were obtained using structured questionnaire administered to one hundred randomly sampled male and female maize farmers from two Local Government Areas. Descriptive statistics, gross margin, net farm income, gross ratio, operation ratio, return on capital investment and production function using regression model were used to analyze the data. The study showed that female farmers were more profitable and efficient in maize production than their male counterpart with operating ratio, gross ratio return on capital investment of 0.23. 0.30 and 3.36 respectively. The result from the production function analysis revealed that the R2 value for men were 54.9% while that of women were 57.1%. Variable inputs such as farm size, seed and fertilizer were found to be significant at 1%, 5% and 5% level of probability respectively for male farmers while seed, fertilizer and agrochemical were found to be significant at 5% and labour at 10% level of probability for female farmers. Elasticity of production (return to scale)for both male and female farmers showed an increasing return to scale and that maize production was in stage I of the production region in the study area. Estimated efficiency ratio(r) shows that the resources used were not efficiently utilized. It is recommended that the present level of allocative efficiency of maize production in the study area should be increased by using more of these productive resources. Farmers should also be encouraged to take into the advice of the adequately trained extension advisers on improved techniques of maize production such that there will be increase in yield per hectare.