Economic Efficiency of Rice Seed Multiplication among Beneficiaries of Saa/Ksadp in Kano State, Nigeria: A Stochastic Frontier Approach

The availability of high-quality and affordable rice seeds plays a critical role in improving rice productivity in Kano State. This study assessed the technical, allocative, and economic efficiency of rice seed multipliers involved in the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA)/Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project (KSADP) in Kano State, Nigeria. Data from 221 community-based rice seed producers were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier analysis. The analysis revealed that the average age of respondents was 46.4 years, with an average household size of 10 persons and an average farming experience of 14.3 years. The majority of participants were male (94.57%) and married (96.83%). Age and household size were identified as crucial factors influencing technical efficiency, while marital status and years of experience significantly affected allocative efficiency. The mean efficiency scores were high: technical efficiency (0.975), allocative efficiency (1.48), and economic efficiency (1.19). These findings indicate that community-based rice seed multipliers operate efficiently. To further enhance their production capabilities and meet the increasing demand for quality and affordable rice seeds, it is recommended that these multipliers receive improved access to credit services.