ABSTRACT

This study is on labour use efficiency in yarn production in Ikwuano local government area of Abia state. Random samples of 60 farmers were chosen from the study area for this study. A set of questionnaires was used for data collection. Data analysis was done using frequency distribution, percentages and regression analysis. The result shows that most of the fanners in the study area attended secondary school and they are within the active age class that is capable of undertaking strenuous activities in yam production. Seventy-five of the respondents had farm size between 1 and 2 hectares showing that farmers in the area are small scale yarn producers since the farm size is less than 5 hectares. The result of the analysis indicated that the identified key resources (land, labour and other inputs used) were inefficiently utilized by farmers in the study area. Farm size was underutilized while other resources (labour and cost of planting materials) were over utilized. This shows that to achieve efficiency in labour use and increase productivity, yam farmers are to increase the farm size and should be trained on how to reduce labour. Since labour was excessively applied. Extension service should be improved by educating fanners on how to optimize resources to ensure increased productivity.