Efficiency and Profitability of Small-Scale Cassava Production in Akure Area of Ondo State, Nigeria

The study assessed the productivity of small-scale cassava farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. One hundred respondents were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected from the respondents and analysed using a combination of descriptive statistics and Stochastic Frontier Production Function model (SFPF). Maximum Likelihood Estimates of the Stochastic Frontier Production Function results showed that farm size, quantity of labour, quantity of agrochemicals and quantity of cassava stem cuttings were the major determinants of output of cassava farmers in the study area. In addition, level of education, farming experience, household size and age of farmers were the major determinants of efficiency of cassava farmers in the study area. The level of education and age were observed to have led to increase in technical efficiency of the farmers. The presence of technical inefficiency effects on the farmers studied, accounted for most output variations in cassava production. The estimated mean technical efficiency was 0.69. The results of simulation on changes in labour cost revealed that increase in labour cost brings about decrease in Gross Margin while decrease in labour cost brings about increase in Gross Margin. The level of profitability of cassava production was found to be high with a mean Gross Margin per hectare of N160, 762.04. Arising from the findings of the study, some recommendations were made for increased productive efficiency and income of cassava farmers in the study area.