This study employed the Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production
function to measure the level of technical efficiency in small-holder
cocoyam production in Anambra state, Nigeria. A multi-stage random
sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers in the state
in 2005 and from them input-output data were obtained using the costroute
approach. The parameters of the stochastic frontier production
function were estimated using the maximum likelihood method. The result
of the analysis shows that individual farm level technical efficiency was
about 95%. The study found education and farming experience to be
positively and significantly related to technical efficiency at 1% while
practice index, fertilizer use and membership of cooperative societies also
had a direct relationship with technical efficiency and were significant at
5% level. Age and farm size had an indirect relationship with technical
efficiency and was significant at 1% and 5% level respectively. There
were no significant relationship between technical efficiency and
knowledge index, credit access and family size. Expected increases in
agriculture require increase in agricultural productivity. In other words,
agricultural productivity very much depends on the efficiency of the
production process. Hence, policies designed to educate people through
proper agricultural extension services will have a great impact in
increasing the level of efficiency and hence agricultural productivity of
these farmers.