Authors : E.O. Effiong and G.C. Onuekwusi
Abstract: The study estimated quantitatively the technical efficiency of production and its determinants in rabbit enterprise in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria employing a stochastic frontier production function approach. A total of sixty rabbit farmers across the six agricultural zones were purposively selected using a well structured questionnaire. Information were sought on the socio-economic characteristics and other quantitative variables of interest. The Maximum Likelihood Cobb-Douglas estimation procedure was used. Careful analysis revealed that labour, feeds/ feed supplements, feeder livestock purchased and farm size were major factors determining total output of the enterprise. The study also showed that membership of cooperative society, farm size, extension contact and gender significantly determine efficiency level in the study area. The maximum technical efficiency attained by the farmer is 92.0% while the minimum technical efficiency is 35.0%. The Mean Technical Efficiency (MTE) is 62.0%. The sum of output elasticities which denotes returns to scale is 1.24 signifying increasing returns to scale. In essence, the enterprise did not attain maximum production frontier. With respect to this findings, appropriate policy options and recommendations are fully made and if properly implemented would enhance efficiency of production in the enterprise through better use of available farm resources.
E.O. Effiong and G.C. Onuekwusi , 2007. Maximum Likelihood Estimation Technique of Rabbit Production in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 2: 165-169.