Abstract

The study evaluated factors influencing bean productivity and technical efficiency among smallholder farmers in Eastern Uganda, using a stochastic frontier model and a Tobit model. Findings showed that bean productivity was significantly influenced by plot-size, seeds and planting fertilizer; mean technical efficiency for sampled farms was 48.2%. The Tobit model estimation revealed that technical efficiency was positively influenced by value of assets (at 1% level), extension service and group membership (at 5% level); while age and distance to the factor market negatively influenced technical efficiency at 10 and 5% levels respectively. Hence the study recommended the need for increased provision of extension service and training on correct input application and improved farming technologies to increase bean productivity. It also suggested the need for policy to discourage land fragmentation, develop road and market infrastructure in rural areas and encourage further formation of well managed farmer groups to improve production efficiency of bean farms.

Keywords:

Common bean, efficiency, stochastic frontier approach, Tobit, Uganda,

References

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

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Copyright

The authors have no competing interests.