Assessment of Resource Use Efficiency and Its Determinants in Maize Production Among Smallholder Farmers in Uasin Gishu and Transzoia Counties, Kenya

Abstract

Maize remains a cornerstone crop for food security and livelihoods in Kenya, particularly in the high-producing counties of Uasin Gishu and Transzoia. Although these regions have the potential to yield 900,000 and 1,000,000 metric tons respectively, actual production lags considerably at approximately 400,000 and 600,000 metric tons. This productivity gap underscores inefficiencies in how resources are utilized by smallholder farmers. This study evaluated resource use efficiency and explored key determinants impacting maize production among a sample of 274 farmers drawn from a population of 16,300 using stratified random sampling guided by Cochran’s formula. Primary data were collected through a structured, self-administered questionnaire designed on a 5-point Likert scale, and the analysis was grounded in production theory and efficiency analysis using a stochastic frontier model estimated by maximum likelihood. Utilizing descriptive statistics alongside Stochastic Frontier Analysis, the findings revealed an average technical efficiency of 82%, with scores ranging between 75% and 91%. Major contributors to inefficiency included limited education, smaller farm sizes, and inadequate access to extension services. The input-output analysis further showed that seed was the most efficiently utilized resource, with an input-output ratio of 66.67, whereas fertilizer and labor recorded lower ratios of 13.33 and 6.67, respectively. Farmers with more than two acres of land, college-level education or above, and access to credit reported higher resource efficiency ratings. The research highlights that optimizing resource use could increase maize yields by up to 25%, advocating for policies that improve farmer training, expand extension outreach, and enhance access to modern inputs to drive sustainable productivity gains.