Analysis of the Technical Efficiency of Castor Farmers in Oyo and Kwara States, Nigeria

This study was carried out to evaluate the technical efficiency and production practices of castor farmers in Oyo Kwara States, Nigeria. Snowballing sampling technique used. Data on practices, inputs, outputs were collected with aid a structured questionnaire by trained enumerators analysed using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Results showed that mean 0.4272 or 42.72%, maximum 1 minimum 0.1315. Only 14% had frontier 1. For operate frontier, needs be increased 57.28%. Technically inefficient farms should emulate operating most productive farms, improve their performance. Furthermore, slacks DEA two overused variables seed labour. The need use right quantity seeds labour other reduce costs without reducing output. for divided into three steps; pre-planting, planting, post-planting. list operations included; land clearing, ploughing, ridging weeding hoe/machete, herbicide spraying, pesticide fungicide fertilizer application, pruning, harvesting, shelling winnowing. From study, it can concluded if input usage would have increase