Abstract
This study evaluated comparative profitability and technical efficiency of small-scale rice farmers with and without access to improved production technology in North Central Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was adopted for this study. The data were collected through a well-structured questionnaire of 1500 small-scale rice farmers with access to technology and 1500 small-scale rice farmers without access to technology making a total of 3000 rice farmers in the study area. The results showed that the average age of the sampled rice farmers with access to technology was 36 years, while those without – 46 years. The results showed that the rice production was profitable for both farmers with and without access to technology. The statistically significant factors influencing the rice production for small-scale farmers with access to technology were the land size (p<0.01), labour (p<0.01), fertilizer (p<0.01) and agrochemical (p<0.01), while the statistically significant factors influencing the rice production for small-scale farmers without access to technology were land size (p<0.01), labour (p<0.01) and agrochemical (p<0.10). The major challenges faced by the small-scale rice farmers with access to technology were the poor credit facilities, shortage of farm input, inadequate rainfall season, high cost of labour and instability in the planting calendar. The F-Chow test showed that there was significant impact on the technical efficiency, productivity and profitability of rice farmers with access to improved technology. Therefore, the study recommends that inputs such as improved seed varieties, fertilizers and chemical inputs should be provided to farmers.
Keywords: profitability, technical efficiency, rice farmers, small-scale, with and without access to technology