Analysis of Technical Efficiency and Profitability in Small Scale Rice

This study was undertaken to analyze technical efficiency and profitability in small scale rice production in the West Region of Cameroon. A multistage selection involving purposive and stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting respondents. A total of 192 small scale rice farmers were purposively selected from four (4) out of eight divisions. Data collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedule, were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production functions. The results revealed that small scale rice production is dominated by males.The average technical efficiency in small scale rice production was 82 percent implying that small scale farmers' technical efficiency could be increased by 18 percent if the available resources are efficiently utilized. Analysis of profitability indicates that, on the average, small scale rice farmers obtained a gross margin of 67,000 FCFA per hectare implying that small scale rice production indicates profitable in the study area.The study recommends that training aimed at fertilizer application and credit use by small scale rice farmers should be frequently organized by extension officer.