INFLUENCE OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION ON TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF COWPEA FARMERS IN NIGERIA: EVIDENCE FROM PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS

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This study examined the influence of agricultural technology utilization on the technical efficiency of cowpea farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. Data were sourced through the use of structured questionnaire administered to 286 respondents. Descriptive statistics, technology utilization index and stochastic frontier analysis models were used for the data analysis. The results revealed that 37.76% of the farmers operated on a low technology utilization range, while 22.38 and 39.86% operated on a moderate and high technology utilization range respectively. Agricultural technology utilization by cowpea farmers showed an inverse relationship with technical efficiency at 1% significant level. The distribution of technical efficiency levels for cowpea farmers indicated that technical efficiency indices ranged from 44% to 96%, with a mean efficiency score of 79%. Major challenges hindering farmers' technology utilization and technical efficiency were lack of credit (83.22%), low income (74.83%), risk of new technology (64.69%), complexity of technology (60.84%), little knowledge of equipment use (57.34%) and use of hired labour (53.15%). The study recommended increased extension support by the Niger State Agricultural and Mechanization Agency directed at cowpea farmers towards ensuring optimal and appropriate utilisation of agricultural technologies such as fertilizers and improved seeds, with the view to enhancing the technical efficiency of cowpea farmers. KEY WORDS Technology utilization, technical efficiency, cowpea,

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