RESOURCE-USE PRODUCTIVITY OF RURAL FARMERS IN KWARA –STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The focus of this study was to examined the productivity of the crop farmers in Kwara-State,  Nigeria. The farm level data for the study were obtained from 226 farmers using multi-stage random sampling technique. The ordinary least squares (OLS) regression as employed to analyse the information obtained. The results showed that the volume of crops produced was significantly determined by land, family, labour, seed and chemical inputs. The productivity estimates showed that family labour and hired labour had the highest average physical productivity. On the average, the marginal value product (MVP) differed significantly from the (MFC) to whichthey sould be equated under allocative efficiency. The analysis further showed that land  and family labour were underutilized while hired labour, seed, chemical and implements were over utilized. In order for crop farmers to attain  economic optimum, they should increase the use of land and family labour and reduce that of hired labor, seed, chemical and implements to the point where MVP equals MFC.