TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF LAYER FARMERS IN AKWA IBOM

This study analyzed the technical efficiency of layer farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was employed to select a total of 100-layer farmers across three agricultural zones in Akwa Ibom State. Relevant data was collected with the aid of a questionnaire. Data collated from the field was analyzed using descriptive statistics, stochastic production frontier, and maximum likelihood estimates. The result showed that most of the farmers were female, with mean age of 36.68 years for layer farmers. The production function estimate showed that hired labour, feeds, capital depreciation, pen size, and saw dust use positively influenced output of layer birds, while family labour and medication had a negative impact on output. The technical efficiency distribution showed a mean efficiency of 66%. The determinants of technical inefficiency showed that education, family size, market share, farming experience, extension visits, trainings, farm size and membership in social groups had negative influence of technical inefficiency of layer production, and farmers age and access to credit had a positive effect on the technical inefficiency of layer production. The study recommends the government and relevant stakeholders should make efforts to subsidize the cost of essential poultry inputs, and develop a workable system to enable poultry farmers access credit. Also, extension training should be intensified as it is shown to improve the technical efficiency of layer farmers.