Integrated crop-livestock management practices, technical efficiency and technology ratios in extensive small-ruminant systems in Ghana

Abstract This paper evaluates the performance of smallholder farmers in three districts of the forest-savannah transition agroecological zone of Ghana and examines the effect of integrated crop-livestock management practices (ICLMPs) on the productivity and technical efficiency of production of small-ruminant outputs of farmers. Using farm-level data collected from a sample of 510 farmers from the Atebubu-Amantin, Nkoranza South and Ejura-Sekyedumase districts, a metafrontier production function model is used to estimate the mean technical efficiencies of farmers in each district and their metatechnology ratios. Small-ruminant outputs of the farmers were significantly influenced by the inputs, herd size, capital, labor, feed and veterinary expenses, in at least one of the three districts and for the metafrontier function. Furthermore, the small-ruminant outputs were significantly and positively influenced by the use of pigeon pea, ash or neem, improved pasture and storage of crop residue. The efficiency of production of small ruminants was affected by ICLMPs such as the use tetracycline, use of ash or neem, and storage of crop residue in one or more of the three districts. The technical efficiency of the crop-livestock farmers was also influenced by their age, gender and education, by their participation in projects, obtaining off-farm income, market information and access to extension advice in one or more of the three districts. The results indicate that there are significant differences in small-ruminant production technologies across the three districts and that the production technology in Nkoranza South district is superior to the ones in use in the other two districts. The results underscore the need for investments in research and extension in developing and disseminating relevant ICLMPs and complementary training that leads to more efficient small-ruminant production and, consequently, increased farm income.