The research was conducted to determine maximum likelihood estimate of stochastic frontier production of small, medium and large-scale cowpea farmers in Bauchi and Gombe States of Nigeria. The major focus was on socio-economic attributes of the small, medium and large-scale cowpea farmers as well as the effects on their efficiency. A total of 323 small, medium and large scale cowpea farmers (i.e., 165 for small, 76 for medium and 82 for large) were selected using ballot box in 10 local government areas of the two States of the study area. Structured questionnaires and interview schedule were used as instruments for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). The mean scores for small, medium and large-scale cowpea farmers in respect to ages, household size and farming experiences were 46, 44 and 47 years, 16, 17 and 19 persons and 12, 14 and 16 years, respectively. The Maximum Likelihood Estimates (MLE) result of the stochastic frontier production function (SFPF) for cowpea farmers indicated the presence of inefficiency. Farm size and herbicide were significant at P>0.001, seed (P>0.05) and family labour at P>0.01. In the efficiency effects, farming experience and household size were both significant at P>0.001; and extension contact and literacy level were significant at P>0.05, respectively.

The study was conducted to analyze sustainability of sugarcane farming in Nigeria. Kano State was purposively selected with a sample size of 54 sugarcane farmers using randomized sampling procedure. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting and regression analysis. The result showed that 94% of the respondents were male, with an average age of 39 years.  The mean household of the farmers was 8 persons.  The average farm size was 2.3ha; it cost N33,224.22 to produce sugarcane per hectare with revenue of N36,706.17; the gross margin was N3,481.95 and the investment rate of return was 0.10. The findings further disclosed that age, household size, education and labour were significant (P<0.05) and influenced the output of sugarcane farming in Nigeria. The results also reveal that land, sugarcane setts, fertilizer, insecticide and labour had ratios of 2.57, 33.44, 6.55, 1.630, and 0.27, respectively. The study revealed the constraints to sugarcane production in Nigeria to include, small farm holdings, high cost of inputs, inadequate credit, land tenure problem and poor extension services. It was concluded that even though sugarcane production is profitable, land, sugar cane sett, fertilizer and insecticide were underutilized and labour was over utilized. The study recommended that the farmers should increase the use of the underutilized factors and reduce the over utilized inputs; and also, the Government should review land ownership policies and subsidize farming inputs.