GENDER DIFFEENTIALS IN FARM LEVEL EFFICIENCY IN RICE PRODUCTION AMONG SMALLHOLDER RICE FARMERS IN FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, NIGERIA

Farm-level efficiency plays a crucial role in achieving the expected agricultural productivity, which can lead to sustainability and food security for Nigeria's growing population. However, smallholder rice farmers are producing at a level below their potential efficiency. This study evaluated gender differentials in farm-level efficiency in rice production among smallholder farmers in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. This study employs a random sampling technique. The data were collected using well-structured questionnaires, which utilized cross-sectional data from 316 smallholder rice farmers. They were analyzed using a stochastic production frontier, stochastic cost frontier, and Tobit regression model. The results show that the statistically significant factors influencing technical efficiency, allocative efficiency and economic efficiencies of rice production for male and female smallholder rice farmers were age (P<0.01), sex (P<0.05), household size (P<0.1), years schooling (P<0.05), nonfarm income (P<0.1), access to credit (P<0.01), extension contact (P<0.05), unit price (P<0.05) and price information (P<0.1), respectively. The average economic efficiency score index obtained by male and female smallholder rice farmers was 51.6% and 55.5%, respectively, and the pooled index was 54.6%. The findings of this study suggest that credit facilities should be made available to farmers at single digit rate to acquire farm inputs such as seed, fertilizer and agrochemicals timely, extension services should be provided to farmers to teach them the application of farm inputs appropriately, they should also be encouraged to join cooperative associations to have access to production resources easily and market their product collectively to earn higher profit, improve their welfare and livelihood. JEL Classification Codes: Q10, Q18.