ABSTRACT

The study focuses on comparing the resource us efficiency of lowland and upland rice production in Afikpo North L.G.A. in Ebonyi State. To fulfil the objectives, a well-structured questionnaire was administered to rice farmers at random. Descriptive statistics that involved the use of means, frequencies and percentages were used to obtain information on the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers. The result indicated that the majority (70% and 65%) of lowland and upland rice farmers respectively were males. Most of the lowland and upland rice farmers (45% and 40% respectively) were between the ages of 50 — 59 years. Majority (50% and 45%) of lowland and upland rice farmers respectively attained primary school level of education. The OLS multiple regression technique was used to analyse the production functions of the rice farmers. The results indicate that for lowland rice production, all the variables such as farm size (Xi), labour (X2). Fertilizer application (X3). Planting material (X4), and capital (X5), while in upland rice production only fertilizer application (X3), planting material (X4) and capital (X5) were significant. F-ratio as postulated by ('how was used to analyse the significant difference in resource use efficiency between the two rice production systems. From the result, the null hypothesis was rejected which implies that there is statistical differences in their resource use. Cost and return analysis was used to determine the profitability between lowland and upland rice farmers and their results were: total cost N265,220, gross income Nl,767,000, and net income N1,501,780 for lowland and total cost N235, 022, gross income Nl,713,300 and net income Nl,478,778 for upland. This showed that lowland rice production is more profitable than upland rice production. In line with the study, it is recommended that labour, farm size, capital, planting material and fertilizer application should be improved as well as to increase output in rice production.