TY - JOUR
T1 - Efficiency and productivity analysis of pineapple farmers in the Akwapim-South District of Ghana
T2 - A distance function approach
AU - Ofori-Appiah, Yaw
AU - Onumah, Edward Ebo
AU - Asem, Freda Elikplim
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - The study sought to analyze the efficiency and productivity of pineapple farmers in the Akwapim-South District of Ghana. The paper employs the stochastic translog distance function technique to analyze the influence of inputs on outputs whilst highlighting the technical efficiency and its determinants of the pineapple farmers. A total of 135 respondents were randomly selected using the multi-stage sampling technique. The results reveal that all the input variables (fertilizer, labour, cost of pineapple suckers and intermediate cost) are significant and have a positive influence on the productivity of pineapple production. The shadow share of other crops is estimated to be negative relative to the production of pineapple in the output mix. The mean technical efficiency score is found to be 85%. This implies that pineapple farmers in the Akwapim-South District have the potential to increase their output level by 15% using the current technology available to them. The results further indicate that age, number of extension visits, education and FBO (farmer-based organization) membership significantly and positively affect the technical efficiency of pineapple farmers. The paper recommends that government policies should ensure inputs are available to farmers at subsidized prices. Furthermore, regular education of extension agents and properly structured extension and FBO service delivery systems should be put in place to enhance the productivity of farmers.
AB - The study sought to analyze the efficiency and productivity of pineapple farmers in the Akwapim-South District of Ghana. The paper employs the stochastic translog distance function technique to analyze the influence of inputs on outputs whilst highlighting the technical efficiency and its determinants of the pineapple farmers. A total of 135 respondents were randomly selected using the multi-stage sampling technique. The results reveal that all the input variables (fertilizer, labour, cost of pineapple suckers and intermediate cost) are significant and have a positive influence on the productivity of pineapple production. The shadow share of other crops is estimated to be negative relative to the production of pineapple in the output mix. The mean technical efficiency score is found to be 85%. This implies that pineapple farmers in the Akwapim-South District have the potential to increase their output level by 15% using the current technology available to them. The results further indicate that age, number of extension visits, education and FBO (farmer-based organization) membership significantly and positively affect the technical efficiency of pineapple farmers. The paper recommends that government policies should ensure inputs are available to farmers at subsidized prices. Furthermore, regular education of extension agents and properly structured extension and FBO service delivery systems should be put in place to enhance the productivity of farmers.
KW - farmer-based organization
KW - output mix
KW - shadow share
KW - stochastic model
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100331442&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/20421338.2020.1857544
DO - 10.1080/20421338.2020.1857544
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85100331442
SN - 2042-1338
VL - 14
SP - 512
EP - 522
JO - African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development
JF - African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development
IS - 2
ER -