Efficiency Profiles of Vegetable Producers in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria

Vegetables are among the major staple foods in Southern Nigeria. This study assessed the efficiency profiles of vegetable producers in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria with specific focus on farm level technical efficiency. One hundred and twenty (120) vegetable producers were randomly selected from three agricultural zones in the State. The Maximum Likelihood Estimates (MLEs) indicate positive relationships between input variables used by farmers and farm outputs. The Generalized Likelihood Ratio test confirms that vegetable producers in the area are relatively technically inefficient. The technical efficiency of the farmers ranged from 48 to 99 percent with a mean of 70 percent. The implication is that there is allowance to improve efficiency with available resource.There is, therefore, the need for policies to promote the availability of affordable farm inputs and technology to help improve farmers’ efficiency and increase vegetable production in the area. Extension services would also help provide useful information to the farmers on farm practices that would enhance output and ensure environmental sustainability of the production process by maintaining the quality of some critical environmental factors especially soil quality.