Consistent evidence on the efficiency of maize production in southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper investigates the technical efficiency of maize farmers in the Jimma Zone of Ethiopia. This is done by estimating various translog production frontiers and testing a posteriori for theoretical consistency of the obtained efficiency scores. Only consistent measures are discussed with respect to possible policy implications. A high variance in technical efficiency over the sample was observed. With respect to the enhancement of the farms' performance in the short-run the improvement of the managerial skills of the farmers as well as the fostering of agricultural extension programs were found to be most relevant. Show more