Factors affecting maize production in Kanem, Chad: Technical and economic efficiency of the Kanem region Chad

The aim of this paper is to (1) examine the technical and economic efficiency of maize producers in the Kanem oases in Chad; (2) analyse the determinants of economic efficiency and/or inefficiency amongst maize producers; and (3) identify their scope for improving maize production. The data were analysed using SPSS 16.0 and STATA 9.0 software. Using a stochastic production frontier, we estimate levels of economic efficiency and break these down into technical and allocative efficiency. Analysis of 251 farmers surveyed in 2014 in the oases reveals that the estimated parameter values show that production inputs significantly affect production costs. More specifically, the prices of fertiliser, herbicide, total labour and equipment are the factors that most influence the production cost of maize. Of the production factors tested, two are significant; we can observe that production depends more heavily on an increase in cultivated area (0.62) than on the use of herbicide (0.23).