Economic Efficiency of Male and Female Irish Potato Farmers in Plateau State, Nigeria: A Translog Profit Function Approach

Abstract

This study compares relative economic efficiency between male and female Irish potato farmers in Plateau State. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in this study. A sample of 500 farmers was randomly selected using proportionality factor from the 27 villages selected from nine local government areas. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and the translog profit function model. The results revealed that the mean ages were 47 years and 42 years for male and female farmers, respectively, with an average household size of 7 and 5 persons. The Cobb-Douglas profit function models, Zellner’s method without restriction; restriction 1, 2 and 3 revealed that the coefficients of all the variables have expected signs except fertilizer. To increase the output/profit level of male farmers by N1.00/kg of potato yield, labour cost should be increased by N0.52, fertilizer cost by N0.72, seed cost by N0.46 and agro-chemical by N3.33. The major conclusion from the result of this study is that female farmers are as efficient as male farmers in potato production. There is no economic rationale for any bias against women. Both farmers should be encouraged to use organic fertilizer because of high cost of inorganic fertilizers in the study area.