Analysis of Total Factor Productivity of Cowpea Farmers in North-Central Nigeria.

Abstract

Analysis of total factor productivity change in cowpea production in North-Central Nigeria between 1993 and 2017 was carried out with secondary production data. The data of cowpea from 1993 to 2017 were collected from National Bureau of Statistics, States, Food and Agriculture Statistical (FAOSTAT) data banks. Malmquist Total Factor Productivity Index (MTFPI) obtained from data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used in analyzing total factor productivity growth of the cowpea, while Tobit regression was used to analyze the determinants of total factor productivity. The results of the MTFPI analysis revealed that technical efficiency change contributed 0.7% to cowpea productivity growth, while technology regressed at 0.5%, leading to cowpea productivity growth at 0.2%. Tobit regression result showed rainfall to have significant and positive relationships with cowpea productivity at 1% level of significance. Credit borrowed for cowpea production had positive and significant relationship with productivity growth at P ≤ 0.05 over the period studied. Capital was statistically significant but negatively related to productivity at 10%. The study recommends farmers' training on farm practices and techniques to increase productivity. They should be encouraged to accept innovations from research institutes and properly allocate production resources to achieve cowpea productivity growth in the area.