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Abstract
The present study examines profitability, technical, cost and allocative efficiencies of cassava production
by applying Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) of 315 farmers from three regions of Delta State, Nigeria.
Results revealed that cassava production was profitable (overall profit margin 1.93), with significant
differences across regions as well as farm size categories. Mean levels of technical, cost and allocative
efficiencies are low estimated at 40%, 29% and 73% respectively, also with significant differences across
regions as well as farm size categories. The implication is that cassava production can be increased
substantially by reallocation of resources to optimal levels, given input and output prices. The results also
confirmed inverse size-productivity and size-efficiency relationships in cassava production, i.e., the
marginal farms are the most productive, profitable, and efficient. Subsistence pressure significantly
reduces technical and cost efficiency. Extension contact significantly improves allocative efficiency
whereas it reduces technical and cost efficiency. There is no gender difference in performance implying
both men and women performs equally well. Farmers located in Delta South and Delta North are
technically efficient relative to Delta Central. However, farmers located in Delta North are allocatively
inefficient. Investment in extension services to make it more effective and improvements in infrastructure
are suggested as policy options.