Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon

Teh Nguh Julie; Fon Dorothy Engwali; Bidogeza Jean-Claude

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15

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Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon

Teh Nguh Julie, Fon Dorothy Engwali, Bidogeza Jean-Claude

Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 5, Issue 4)

Received: 11 May 2017 Accepted: 22 May 2017 Published: 10 July 2017

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Abstract

This study evaluated the efficiency of diversification versus specialization of vegetable-based farms in the West region of Cameroon. The study employed the use of a questionnaire to obtain information from 70 specialized and 54 diversified farmers randomly selected from three purposively selected localities in the West region. The one-step stochastic frontier approach with a Cobb-Douglas model specification was used in analysis. Data was analyzed using the computer program, STATA version 12.0. Findings revealed that majority (71.8%) of vegetable farmers are males, with an average age of 30 years and 73.4% had attained at least a primary education. Results of the stochastic frontier analysis revealed the mean technical efficiency of vegetable farmers to be 0.863. Mean technical efficiency scores for specialized and diversified farmers were found to be 0.867 and 0.858 respectively. However, the results of a standard t-test concluded that technical efficiency is invariant of cropping system. The main sources of inefficiency were identified to be farm size, education, credit and membership to a mutual aid group, while age, sex and access to extension information and services were found to enhance technical efficiency. The study therefore recommends extension services to be reinforced on farmers who receive loan and on those who belong to mutual aid groups, in a bid to increase technical efficiency.

Published in	American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15
Page(s)	112-120
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Technical Efficiency, Diversification, Specialization, Vegetable Farms, West Region, Cameroon

References

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APA Style

Teh Nguh Julie, Fon Dorothy Engwali, Bidogeza Jean-Claude. (2017). Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 5(4), 112-120. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15

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ACS Style

Teh Nguh Julie; Fon Dorothy Engwali; Bidogeza Jean-Claude. Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon. Am. J. Agric. For. 2017, 5(4), 112-120. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15

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AMA Style

Teh Nguh Julie, Fon Dorothy Engwali, Bidogeza Jean-Claude. Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon. Am J Agric For. 2017;5(4):112-120. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15,
  author = {Teh Nguh Julie and Fon Dorothy Engwali and Bidogeza Jean-Claude},
  title = {Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon},
  journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {112-120},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20170504.15},
  abstract = {This study evaluated the efficiency of diversification versus specialization of vegetable-based farms in the West region of Cameroon. The study employed the use of a questionnaire to obtain information from 70 specialized and 54 diversified farmers randomly selected from three purposively selected localities in the West region. The one-step stochastic frontier approach with a Cobb-Douglas model specification was used in analysis. Data was analyzed using the computer program, STATA version 12.0. Findings revealed that majority (71.8%) of vegetable farmers are males, with an average age of 30 years and 73.4% had attained at least a primary education. Results of the stochastic frontier analysis revealed the mean technical efficiency of vegetable farmers to be 0.863. Mean technical efficiency scores for specialized and diversified farmers were found to be 0.867 and 0.858 respectively. However, the results of a standard t-test concluded that technical efficiency is invariant of cropping system. The main sources of inefficiency were identified to be farm size, education, credit and membership to a mutual aid group, while age, sex and access to extension information and services were found to enhance technical efficiency. The study therefore recommends extension services to be reinforced on farmers who receive loan and on those who belong to mutual aid groups, in a bid to increase technical efficiency.},
 year = {2017}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon
AU  - Teh Nguh Julie
AU  - Fon Dorothy Engwali
AU  - Bidogeza Jean-Claude
Y1  - 2017/07/10
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15
T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
SP  - 112
EP  - 120
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8591
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15
AB  - This study evaluated the efficiency of diversification versus specialization of vegetable-based farms in the West region of Cameroon. The study employed the use of a questionnaire to obtain information from 70 specialized and 54 diversified farmers randomly selected from three purposively selected localities in the West region. The one-step stochastic frontier approach with a Cobb-Douglas model specification was used in analysis. Data was analyzed using the computer program, STATA version 12.0. Findings revealed that majority (71.8%) of vegetable farmers are males, with an average age of 30 years and 73.4% had attained at least a primary education. Results of the stochastic frontier analysis revealed the mean technical efficiency of vegetable farmers to be 0.863. Mean technical efficiency scores for specialized and diversified farmers were found to be 0.867 and 0.858 respectively. However, the results of a standard t-test concluded that technical efficiency is invariant of cropping system. The main sources of inefficiency were identified to be farm size, education, credit and membership to a mutual aid group, while age, sex and access to extension information and services were found to enhance technical efficiency. The study therefore recommends extension services to be reinforced on farmers who receive loan and on those who belong to mutual aid groups, in a bid to increase technical efficiency.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Teh Nguh Julie

Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
Fon Dorothy Engwali

Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
Bidogeza Jean-Claude

World Vegetable Centre, World Bank Group, Centre Region, Yaoundé, Cameroon

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APA Style

Teh Nguh Julie, Fon Dorothy Engwali, Bidogeza Jean-Claude. (2017). Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 5(4), 112-120. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15

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ACS Style

Teh Nguh Julie; Fon Dorothy Engwali; Bidogeza Jean-Claude. Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon. Am. J. Agric. For. 2017, 5(4), 112-120. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15

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AMA Style

Teh Nguh Julie, Fon Dorothy Engwali, Bidogeza Jean-Claude. Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon. Am J Agric For. 2017;5(4):112-120. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15,
  author = {Teh Nguh Julie and Fon Dorothy Engwali and Bidogeza Jean-Claude},
  title = {Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon},
  journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {112-120},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20170504.15},
  abstract = {This study evaluated the efficiency of diversification versus specialization of vegetable-based farms in the West region of Cameroon. The study employed the use of a questionnaire to obtain information from 70 specialized and 54 diversified farmers randomly selected from three purposively selected localities in the West region. The one-step stochastic frontier approach with a Cobb-Douglas model specification was used in analysis. Data was analyzed using the computer program, STATA version 12.0. Findings revealed that majority (71.8%) of vegetable farmers are males, with an average age of 30 years and 73.4% had attained at least a primary education. Results of the stochastic frontier analysis revealed the mean technical efficiency of vegetable farmers to be 0.863. Mean technical efficiency scores for specialized and diversified farmers were found to be 0.867 and 0.858 respectively. However, the results of a standard t-test concluded that technical efficiency is invariant of cropping system. The main sources of inefficiency were identified to be farm size, education, credit and membership to a mutual aid group, while age, sex and access to extension information and services were found to enhance technical efficiency. The study therefore recommends extension services to be reinforced on farmers who receive loan and on those who belong to mutual aid groups, in a bid to increase technical efficiency.},
 year = {2017}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon
AU  - Teh Nguh Julie
AU  - Fon Dorothy Engwali
AU  - Bidogeza Jean-Claude
Y1  - 2017/07/10
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15
T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
SP  - 112
EP  - 120
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8591
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170504.15
AB  - This study evaluated the efficiency of diversification versus specialization of vegetable-based farms in the West region of Cameroon. The study employed the use of a questionnaire to obtain information from 70 specialized and 54 diversified farmers randomly selected from three purposively selected localities in the West region. The one-step stochastic frontier approach with a Cobb-Douglas model specification was used in analysis. Data was analyzed using the computer program, STATA version 12.0. Findings revealed that majority (71.8%) of vegetable farmers are males, with an average age of 30 years and 73.4% had attained at least a primary education. Results of the stochastic frontier analysis revealed the mean technical efficiency of vegetable farmers to be 0.863. Mean technical efficiency scores for specialized and diversified farmers were found to be 0.867 and 0.858 respectively. However, the results of a standard t-test concluded that technical efficiency is invariant of cropping system. The main sources of inefficiency were identified to be farm size, education, credit and membership to a mutual aid group, while age, sex and access to extension information and services were found to enhance technical efficiency. The study therefore recommends extension services to be reinforced on farmers who receive loan and on those who belong to mutual aid groups, in a bid to increase technical efficiency.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
ER  -

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