GENDER ANALYSIS AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY AMONG RICE FARMERS IN EWEKORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The study analyzed the gender differentials and technical efficiency among male and female rice farmers. The study specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of male and female rice farmers, determined the technical efficiency of male and female rice farmers, estimated the cost and returns of rice production and identified the constraints facing rice farmers in the study area. Primary data was used and it was collected through the use of well-structured questionnaire and interview schedule. Multistage sampling techniques was used to select respondents from the study and the analytical tools used were descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier model and gross margin analysis. The study explored several demographic, economic, and technical characteristics of rice farmers in the study area. It showed that the majority of rice farmers, both male and female, were in the age group of 41-50 years, indicating an older farming population. The average age for male, female, and pooled farmers was about 40 years. This age distribution suggests a relatively mature farming population with potential experience but may also point to challenges in attracting younger generations to rice farming. Furthermore, the majority of rice farmers were married, implying family-oriented individuals, likely utilizing family labor to reduce production costs. Household size was another significant finding, with most rice farmers having large households of nine or more persons. This large family size provides a source of labor, which could reduce the need for hired workers and enhance productivity. Most respondents had one form of formal education or another, which is essential for adopting new agricultural technologies and practices that could improve yields. Technical efficiency among the farmers was generally high, with a significant portion achieving full efficiency. However, there remains room for improvement, particularly among female farmers, whose average efficiency was lower than that of their male counterparts. This suggests that adopting best practices could further increase output. Finally, the analysis of costs and revenue revealed that male farmers had higher profits than female farmers, with higher revenue and lower production costs. Constraints faced by the rice farmers were also identified, with land tenure issues, soil degradation, inadequate rainfall, and low paddy rice prices ranked as the most significant challenges. Based on the findings the study recommended that Youth Participation in farming should be encouraged since the majority of rice farmers are older, there is a need to attract younger generations to farming through targeted programs, incentives, and access to resources such as land and credit. Also government and agricultural institutions should facilitate access to more land through land reforms, leasing options, and addressing land tenure issues to support larger-scale rice farming operations. Furthermore, with a high level of formal education among rice farmers, agricultural extension services should be expanded to provide continuous training on modern farming techniques, climate-smart agriculture, and innovations in rice production. This would help farmers stay updated on best practices and increase productivity.