Irrigation & Drainage Systems Engineering

Productivity Differentials in Liberia: An Empirical Investigation of Irrigated and Rainfed Farming Households in Tchien District

Abstract

Oyebamiji OA*, Kisava ZS, Harris JN

The study analyses the efficacy of rainfed and irrigated smallholder farms in Tchien district of Liberia. A total of 120 respondents were randomly selected from 5 rural communities around the major rice-producing areas of Tchien District: Gaye town, New Zleh, Old Zleh, Turglor, and Ziah. A total of 58 irrigation farmers and 58rainfed farmers, comprising of 61 male and 57 female rice farmers were interviewed.The study is empirical, taken under different variables to decide the appropriate agricultural system, and the variables to be employed in determining a successful production system. The study applies both the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to determine the efficient utilization of production inputs, and the logit model was used to measure the adoption of an irrigation system. Findings suggest that there is a serious disparity in efficiency between rainfed and irrigated farms, implying that irrigated farms are twice as efficient as rainfed farmers; most of the farmers are likely to adopt irrigation systems. Concerned institutions should work to improve access to capital, encourage irrigation farming, and work to effectively integrate experience farmers with young farmers.