Abstract
Cassava is a crucial staple crop in Nigeria, yet farmers often face challenges in achieving optimal profitability. The study analyzed the economic efficiency of cassava farmers in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of cassava farmers in the study area; determine the economic efficiency of cassava farmers in the study area and to estimate the determinants of economic efficiency among cassava farmers in the study area. We also examined the constraints militating against cassava production in the study area. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 120 respondents for the study. Primary data were obtained using structured questionnaire and the data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function. The result showed that the mean age, household size, farming experience, and farm size of the sampled respondents were 39 years, 4 persons, 6 years and 1.9 hectares, respectively. The mean, minimum and maximum economic efficiency for cassava production were 0.72, 0.35 and 1.00 respectively. The results of the estimated stochastic production function and the determinants of economic inefficiency showed that labour (p<0.01) was found to be a significant input in cassava production while age (p<0.01), household size (p<0.05), education (p<0.01), farming experience (p<0.05), and access to extension (p<0.01) were the determinants of economic inefficiency of cassava production in the study area. We also found that the major constraints militating against cassava production were, high cost of fertilizer (13.7%), theft (13.7%), lack of access to credit (13.7%), inadequate access to land (13.7%), and poor road network (13.7%) while poor extension services (9.3%) and high cost of labour (8.5%) were the other constraints militating against cassava production in the study area. The study recommends that outreach programs should be strengthened to provide farmers with timely information, technical support, and best practices for cassava production, thereby reducing economic inefficiencies.