The Structure and Efficiency in Resource Use in Maize Production in the Asamankese District of Ghana

Abstract

The study sets out to find out on one hand, the present structure of resources in agricultural production and secondly, to delve deeper into the controversy surrounding the comparative efficiency in resource use by sharecroppers and owner farmers in agricultural production. The approaches used to assess the structure of the resources are frequency distributions, descriptive analyses and estimation of cost composition of individual resources. In assessing the comparative efficiency in the use of resources by sharecroppers and owner farmers, the gross margins method and the allocative efficiency method based on the profit maximizing assumption were used. The findings of the study indicate that, there is limited use of fertilizers, weedicides and improved seeds. Cutlass is widely used. Mixed cropping is widely practiced, land areas cultivated to maize fall mostly below one hectare and the major source of labour on almost all the farms studied is the family. The study also found that there were no significant differences in the efficient use of land and labour by owner and sharecropping farmers. It is therefore concluded that the traditional way of farming based on the structure of the resources has not changed in the study district. With the efficiency in the use of land and labour by sharecroppers and owner farmers, the conclusion is that both farmer groups use land and labour inefficiently.