Factors affecting labour-use efficiency of soybean farming among smallscale growers in north west, Nigeria

Alabi, O. O.; AMA, O. A.; Oluleye, O. D.

doi:10.21608/svuijas.2025.370852.1450

Factors affecting labour-use efficiency of soybean farming among smallscale growers in north west, Nigeria

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, PMB 117 Gwagwalada-Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

² Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program, No. 3 Aguleri Street, Off Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria

³ 1443 Brightside Drive, Baton Rouge Louisiana USA

10.21608/svuijas.2025.370852.1450

Abstract

This research work focused on factors affecting labour-use efficiency of soybean farming among small-scale growers in North West, Nigeria. The study employed the use of simple random sampling approach to select 200 soybean growers. Primary data of cross-sectional sources were utilized with the aid of well-organized questionnaire that was subjected to reliability and validity test. Data were analyzed using descriptive and stochastic labour-use efficiency frontier model. The outcome shows that the mean age of soybean growers was 42 years. The soybean growers have approximately 9 years of school education with 10 years’ experience in soybean farming. The significant factors influencing the labour-use efficiency were seed, farm size, depreciation cost at 5% alpha level, respectively. The significant socio-economic factors influencing the labour-use inefficiency were age (P < 0.10), education (P < 0.10), and experience (P < 0.05). The mean labour-use efficiency score was 0.654. The worst and best labour efficient soybean farmers attained efficiency scores of 0.2084 and 0.9653, respectively. The worst and best practiced soybean farmers lost potential labour inputs of 79.16 and 3.47% in soybean output due to factors that are within their control. The worst, average, and best practical soybean farmers to be on the frontier level they need to increase their labour efficiency by 79.16, 34.6, and 3.47%, respectively. The study recommended that labour-use saving technologies and machines should be made available to soybean growers at affordable prices. In addition, appropriate farm wages should be given farm labour to motivate them for productivity and efficiency.

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