Analysis of ill-health and technical efficiency of maize farmers in selected Local Government Areas of Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Several farmers have died or incapacitated as a result of preventable and curable health challenges. These challenges no doubt have had negative impact on farmers’ welfare, agricultural production, efficiency of the farmers and the economy of developing countries like Nigeria. Though it is a known fact that ill-health is devastating but the extent of the devastation may not be known with certainty until it is scientifically proven through research. The study therefore investigated the effect of ill-health on the technical efficiency of maize farmers in Osun, State, Nigeria. 220 farmers were interviewed while the tools of analysis included descriptive statistics, stochastic production frontier and cost of illness procedure. The results revealed that aches (34.32%) and malaria (22.53%) were the most prevalent illness in the area while the perceived causes of illness included stress, poor financial base and, inadequate medical facilities. Meanwhile, the main sources of treatment included consultation with herbalists, local/self medication and hospitals. The main challenges in seeking for good health comprised inadequate medical personnel, inadequate finance and, long distance of the clinics/hospitals from their farm/residence. Time cost accounted for the largest proportion of the economic cost of illness. In addition, access to health care services, number of days absent from farm due to illness and amount spent on drugs all had significant effect on the technical efficiency of the farmers. With a mean of 0.64, none of the farmers operated at the frontier level of technical efficiency. Based on the results, it is therefore recommended that extension personnel should educate the farmers on the need for adequate rest always and use of treated mosquito nets at night.