Allocative Efficiency of Broiler Farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria

This study estimated the allocative efficiency of broiler farmers on resource use. This was in proffering solutions to the low productivity experienced by broiler farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria, as a result of a number of challenges militating against their production businesses. The data used were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of broiler farmers in the State. Simple random sampling procedures were used to select 221 farmers for the study. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least square regression. The result showed that, among the production factors, only the costs of water, litter materials and fixed inputs did not have significant impacts on the revenue of the broiler farmers (pgreater than0.05). It also showed that only the money allocated to feeding was over-utilised (AEless than1) while others were under-utilised. Although each of the inputs utilised by the farmers was inelastic with output (Ep. less than1), the farmers operated at increasing returns to scale (∑Ep. greater than1). Top among the constraints experienced by the farmers were high cost of day-old chicks, high cost of feed, high cost of medication, price fluctuations and poor quality of feed. More extension contacts are, therefore, needed to enlighten farmers on ways they can improve their efficiency in farm inputs utilisation for optimum yield and profit.