Abstract:
The Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) was a program initiated in 2011 by the Federal Government of Nigeria aimed at achieving a viable agricultural sector that drives income growth and secures food security. However, there is little information on the effect of ATA on technical efficiency (T.E) of maize farmers in the study area. Therefore, this study estimated T.E and identified the determinants of T.E. among ATA and non-ATA maize farmers in three selected Local Government Area of Ondo State namely; Ose, Akure North and Odigbo. The sample size was 120 maize farmers (60 each for ATA and non-ATA). Descriptive statistics; Costs and Returns Analysis; Data Envelopment Analysis and Tobit Regression Model were used as analytical tools in the research. Socio-economic characteristics indicated that ATA farmers were younger in age, more educated, and had more experience in maize production than the non-ATA farmers. Cost and return analysis revealed a gross margin/ha of N37,913.03 for ATA with 2.28 income expenditure ratio while the gross margin/Ha of non-ATA was N19,444.61 with income expenditure ration of 1.40. ATA farmers were more (on the average) technically efficient (79%) compared with 28% average technical efficiency of Non-ATA farmers. Results of determinants of T.E. showed that marital status, level of education, age, access to credit, years farmer spent in maize farming and seed source were positively related factors with T.E. in ATA while farming as major occupation was found to be negatively related to technical efficiency scores. Similarly, gender, maize farming experience, maize acreage and access to credit were positively related to non-ATA efficiency scores. In addition, there was a significant difference between the mean T.E of ATA and non-ATA farmers at 1% level while gross margin was significant at 10%. Therefore, based on the above results, ATA farmers performed better than non-ATA farmers indicating a positive response to inputs received by ATA participants. It is concluded and recommended that if maize farmers are to increase their output, more training on the usage of inputs especially fertilizer and herbicides should be carried out regularly by extension experts and improved maize seeds should be more readily available, coupled with access to adequate credit. The scope of the program should also be enlarged to accommodate more farmers, especially the unemployed youths.
