摘要：The current food crisis all over the globe has necessitated alternative policy actions by various stakeholders in almost all countries of the world. Consequently, efforts are focused on increased investment in agricultural research and development. The study evaluates impact of technological innovations on estimates of technical, allocative and cost efficiency from a parametric stochastic and non-parametric distance functions. Inefficiency effects are modelled in a second stage endogeniety-corrected Tobit regression model as a function of technological innovation and other policy variables. The results from both approaches show there is substantial technical, allocative and cost inefficiency in maize production and that analysis of technical, allocative and cost efficiency with respect to technological innovation and other policy factors are robust. Our results show that policies aimed at maize technology development and their timely dissemination, improvement in education, access to credit and extension among others could promote technical, allocative and cost efficiency, reduce yield variability, enhance farm income, food security and reduce poverty in Nigeria.
