Technical Efficiency and the Impact of Fadama Participation: A Meta-Frontier Analysis of Smallholder Cassava Farmers in Edo State, Nigeria

Enhancing the technical efficiency (TE) of smallholder farmers is critical for achieving food security and agricultural transformation in Nigeria, a nation where cassava productivity remains below potential despite being a global leader in production. This study evaluates the impact of participation in the FADAMA development programme on the technical efficiency of cassava farmers in Edo State, employing a novel meta-frontier framework to disentangle managerial performance from technology access. Primary data were collected from 480 farmers (240 participants and 240 non-participants) across three agro-ecological zones using a multi-stage sampling technique designed to ensure representativeness. Analysis involved a two-stage approach: first, Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) estimated group-specific TE scores; second, a meta-frontier model calculated the technology gap ratio (TGR). A Tobit regression identified determinants of inefficiency. Results show that FADAMA participants had a significantly higher mean group TE (0.81) compared to non-participants (0.69). However, the meta-frontier analysis reveals a persistent technology gap, with participants' TGR at 0.89. This indicates that while participants are better managers, they still operate 11% below the potential regional best-practice frontier. Key drivers of inefficiency include limited access to formal credit, older farmer age, and greater distance to output markets. The study concludes that FADAMA successfully improves farm-level management but has not fully closed the technology adoption gap. We recommend programme redesign to integrate intensive practical training, facilitate formal credit access, and improve rural infrastructure to maximize efficiency gains.