Measuring Efficiency of Farm Productive Resources Used in Yam Production in Benue State of Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Farm Economy

The present research empirically determined efficiency of productive resources committed to yam production in Benue State, Nigeria using cross-sectional data elicited from 120 active farmers via multi-stage sampling design. The ex-post data for 2016 cropping season were collected during the years 2016/2017. Structured questionnaire complemented with interview schedule were the instruments used for data collection and the collected data were analyzed using descriptive, pseudo-inferential and inferential statistics. The results revealed an economic viable farming population with adequate literacy level which is healthy for yam value chain if enable environment is provided. However, the farm families in the studied area were unproductive given that it is composed of weak and vulnerable people, thus draining farmers' income stream. The enterprise is found to be profitable both from the accounting and economic point of view. Findings further showed that the farmers were operating at stage I of the production surface which is the reason for under-utilization of almost all the productive resources employed in yam production. The study recommends provision of viable extension services in order to enhance rationalization of yam farm resources by the farmers in the studied area.