Analysis of the technical efficiency of onion producers in Agadez and Tahoua regions of Niger
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18559/rielf.2024.2.2025Keywords:
DEA, SFA, technical efficiency, onionAbstract
Purpose: In this article, the technical efficiency of onion producers in Agadez and Tahoua regions is analysed using two methods: data envelopment analysis (DEA) and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA).
Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected in two waves: in Agadez region in 2016 on 119 farmers and in Tahoua region in 2021 on 136 farmers. A sample of 255 producers was constituted and analysed as a whole. We thus compared the outcome of the SFA which is stochastic parametric to those of the DEA which is non-parametric deterministic.
Findings: The results of the SFA model revealed that the average onion output can increase by 37% if the farmers could correctly use the production technology. They also reveal that the most effective inputs of onion production in Niger are labour, fertilisers and land size. We concluded from the two models that the average farmer in these two regions can reduce his production costs by 31.12% (SFA) and 28.1% (DEA) respectively depending on the considered analytical model. Among other things, technical efficiency is highly influenced by extension visits, education, age of the farmers and regional factors.
Originality/value: Improving the technical efficiency of onion farmers in Niger improves food security and social stability by combating inequalities. This would amount to intensifying and modernising agricultural extension services to disseminate good agricultural practices among farmers.
JEL Classification
Production • Cost • Capital • Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity • Capacity (D24)
Allocative Efficiency • Cost–Benefit Analysis (D61)
Production (E23)
R&D • Agricultural Technology • Biofuels • Agricultural Extension Services (Q16)
Agricultural Policy • Food Policy • Animal Welfare Policy (Q18)
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