Technical Efficiency of Broiler Production in Delta State, Nigeria

Purpose: The study examined the technical efficiency of broiler production in Delta State, Nigeria. Specifically, it determined the effects of socio-economic characteristics of the farmers on production output, determined the profitability of broiler production, and established the levels of technical efficiency attained by the farmers. It also ascertain the socio-economic factors of the farmers that influence their technical efficiency levels; assessed the nature of returns to scale and elasticities of broiler production inputs; and identified the constraints to broiler production in the area. A survey research design approach was used in the study. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select 240 registered broiler farmers. Primary data were collected in the 2019 production season using structured questionnaire administered to the respondents by personal interview. Methodology: Descriptive and parametric statistics such as frequencies, means, percentages, ratios, enterprise budgeting, profit function regression and Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier regression techniques were used in data analysis. Findings: Findings indicated that broiler production output was significantly influenced by age, household size, farm size, farming experience and cost of feeds while gender, marital status, educational level, access to credit and extension visits were not significant. Mean technical efficiency scores of 0.94 was attained with 0.97 maximum and 0.90 minimum. Output elasticities with respect to farm size, labour, capital and feeds were 0.42, 0.13, 0.13 and 0.17 respectively. Technical efficiency of the farmers was significantly influenced by educational level, farming experience, household size, gender and access to credit, but weakly determined by age. Broiler farms operated at decreasing returns to scale. Major constraints to broiler production in the area arranged in descending order of seriousness were high cost of feeds, inadequate capital, high cost of labour, parasites and diseases, high mortality rate and inadequate feeds. Unique contributor to theory, policy and practice: Policy measures such as increased budgetary allocation to livestock production, subsidization of inputs, provision of soft loans to broiler farmers by relevant institutions, provision of requisite infrastructures and improved funding of extension agencies to enhance information dissemination to broiler farmers are advocated.