ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SNAIL FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Assessing the relative performance of the processes used in transforming given inputs into output is key to increasing agricultural productivity and enhancing food security and income. This study therefore examined the technical efficiency of snail farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents used for the study. Primary data, collected using structured questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and maximum likelihood estimation procedure using the computer software frontier version 4.1. Results showed that the significant factors influencing output of the snail farmers were stock size, labour, feed and capital. The significant determinants of technical efficiency of the snail farmers were age of the farmer (P = 0.05), educational attainment (P = 0.05), farming experience (P = 0.01), extension contact (P = 0.05), and cooperative membership (p = 0.01). The result also showed that majority (52%) of the snail farmers have an efficiency of between 61 - 80%, with the least efficient and most efficient farmers having efficiencies of 41.6% and 99.9% respectively. The mean level of efficiency was 75.6%. It was recommended that in order to enhance the efficiency and thus productivity of snail farms, policies that would encourage the youths to go into farming should be put in place. In addition, educational and training programmes should be organized regularly for the farmers as well as strengthening the extension services delivery system to provide the farmers the needed information on improved farming practices and innovations.