ABSTRACT
The study ascertained the cost and returns and analyzed technical efficiency of rainfed cabbage production in Kudan, Sabon-Gari and Zaria LGAs of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 130 cabbage farmers selected using multi stage sampling techniques. The data of 2013 cropping season were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function. The results of the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents revealed that over 90% of the respondents were within the active ages of 20-52 years; about 61% had western formal education with average farm size of 0.19 hectares. The average output of cabbage in the study area was 11, 766.57 kg/ha. Cabbage Production is profitable with an average return of ₦1.30 for every ₦1 invested in the study area. The maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) of the stochastic frontier production function model revealed that farm size was significant to cabbage output. The technical efficiency scores revealed that the most efficient farmer operated at 98% efficiency, the least efficient farmer was found to operate at 1% efficiency level, while the mean was indicating that cabbage farmers still have room to increase the efficiency in their farming activities from the optimum (100%) is yet to be attained by a typical farmer in the study area. However, the mean economic efficiency of the cabbage farmers was 0.80, implying that output fell by 20% from the maximum possible attainable level due to economic inefficiency of the farmers. The inefficiency model revealed that age squared, family size, extension contact and educational level, increased TE, while credit access and farming experience were the determinant of allocative efficiency of the farmers. The results indicated that all the variables were significant (P<0.01).The major challenges faced by the cabbage farmers include insect and disease attack (55%), inadequate capital (14%) and activities of middlemen (14%). The study therefore, recommends investing in research and extension activities by the government and NGOs as well as encouraging more involvement in cabbage production especially by the unemployed youth as a step towards unemployment and poverty reduction.
