Efficiency measurement of maize production in Nigeria

Maize is a cereal staple food crop that is grown in many of the ecological zones of Nigeria. Maize despite its economic importance to the country, yet its local demand is not met. Therefore, boosting maize production efficiency is needed in the country. The study analyzed maize performance in terms of production technical efficiency (TE) and economic efficiency (EE ) in Nigeria. The study has also determined factors that influence maize production TE and EE. Also cost efficiency was determined. The annual secondary data from 1971 to 2010 were used. The study employed Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), based on output orientation and variable return to scale (VRS) assumption in order to determine technical efficiency. DEA based on cost minimization was used to determine economic efficiency. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) model was used to determine factors that affect technical and economic efficiency. Stochastic frontier analysis was used to determine maize production cost efficiency.