Technical Efficiency of Small-Scale Fish Farmers in Lagos State, Nigeria
Technical efficiency is an important dimension of aquaculture performance because farmers using similar production resources may achieve different output levels. This study assessed technical efficiency and sources of inefficiency among 270 small-scale fish farmers in Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria. A stochastic frontier production function was estimated using maximum likelihood, followed by an inefficiency-effects model. Feed cost, farm size, labour, capital investment and extension service intensity were positive and statistically significant in the frontier production function. The estimated gamma parameter was 0.742. Technical-efficiency scores ranged from 0.521 to 0.981, with a mean of 0.832. Education, farming experience, extension service intensity, training participation and fish-farmer association membership significantly reduced technical inefficiency, whereas age significantly increased inefficiency. Household size was not statistically significant. The results demonstrate substantial variation in efficiency among small-scale fish farms and identify farmer knowledge, experience and institutional engagement as important correlates of efficiency. Strengthening extension intensity, practical training and producer organizations may therefore support more efficient resource use in small-scale aquaculture. The cross-sectional design, however, means that the observed relationships should not be interpreted as definitive causal effects.
Keywords: technical efficiency; stochastic frontier; aquaculture; fish farmers; inefficiency; extension intensity; Lagos State.
