This paper aims to examine the technology gap efficiency of small-scale rice processors in Anambra State, Nigeria. The research was conducted through a survey of 100 small-scale rice processors in Anambra State. Data were collected with structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive, stochastic frontier analysis, stochastic meta-frontier model, and inferential statistical techniques. The study revealed that important variables to rice processing present in the state are paddy, firewood, water, and huller. Concerning the economic-specific factors, the cost of grading and other processing assets contributes to inefficiency. The results equally showed that the technology gap efficiency of small-scale rice processors in the industry is tied to or tangential to the frontier output, meaning that the processors in Anambra State are making use of the best technology available. The average efficiency index for the processors in the industry was 0.506, implying that their output is below potential by 49.4%. The results also revealed the technology gap efficiency for the participating and non-participating processors as 0.924 and 0.983, respectively, meaning that the participants need to close an 8.0% gap, and the non-participants need to close a 2.0% gap. These gaps are caused by the high cost of processing equipment, high cost of input, and inadequate infrastructure, among others contributing factors. The paper concluded that the average meta-technical efficiency (0.498) of small-scale rice processors in Anambra State is low and needs to be improved through the provision of adequate technology, training, and infrastructure to bring the current industrial production capacity to 100.0%.

The study examined socioeconomic determinants of farmers’ using social network in advancing agribusiness in Anambra State, Nigeria. Specifically, it described the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, identified various social networks available and level of usage among the respondents, determined the influence of socio-economic factors on net marketing income among the respondents and identified the challenges of social network in advancing agribusiness by the respondents. Multi-stage, purposive and simple random methods were used to select one hundred and sixty respondents for the study. Data were collected from primary source. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, and multiple regression techniques. From the result, findings on the socioeconomic characteristics showed that farmers are relatively young, energetic, are in computer age and able to use phone and other devices to advance agribusiness in their area and beyond for optimum profit. Farmers are educated, married and there is male dominance in the use of social network in advancing agribusiness in the study area. The result showed that whatsapp, facebook, you tube and messenger were mostly used in advancing agribusiness in the study. Marital status, education, household size, means of delivery and marketing cost influenced net marketing income earned by the respondents. Lack of awareness, poor assessment of social network and costly charge of data when accessing the social network were perceived as the main constraints affecting agribusiness. Measures will be taken by appropriate authorities to reduce the tariff of data in accessing social network. Farmers should be trained more on the use of social network to advance their produce to the world. Network providers should of necessity improve their services to enable social network users to be effective. Keywords: Determinants, Social network, Agribusiness.

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