The Food Challenge: Impact of Oil Spillage on the Welfare of Cassava Farmers in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

The study made use of the economic efficiency of cassava farmers in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States in analysing food shortage, oil spillage and the future of farmers in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Five hundred and forty (540) cassava farmers were used in a multistage sampling procedure. Data analysed used descriptive statistics and a stochastic frontier model. The findings were that cassava farmers are relatively educated and relatively vibrant. Stochastic frontier results (Maximum Likelihood Estimates) revealed farm output increases with size, hired labour, family labour and planting material but decreases with herbicide. A mean economic efficiency of 61 per cent implied room for improvement in efficiency by 39 percent with present technology. Economic efficiencies were significantly different between OS and NOS groups. Most farmers in NOS locations (92.0%) had higher welfare than those in OS locations (25.0%). Oil spill reduced Per Capita Household Expenditure of cassava farming households in OS locations by N45. 861:.00. Oil spillage reduced the economic efficiencies in cassava farming as well as the welfare of their households in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Policy option requires efficient utilisation of resources.