This article assessed the technical and allocative efficiencies of cotton farmers in Nagpur district, Maharashtra, India. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted in selecting one hundred and twenty farmers. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier production function and inefficiency model were employed for data analysis. Results from the review of socioeconomic characteristics reveal that cotton production in the study area was dominated by small and marginal farmers (96.7%). Majority of the cotton producers (84.2%) had small family size (2-6 persons) with low literacy rate. The results obtained from the stochastic frontier production function reveal that farm size and labour were the major determinants of cotton production in the study area. The mean technical efficiency estimate was 78%, implying that farmers are highly efficient although cotton output can still be raised by 22% through better resource allocation without incurring additional cost. Estimates of Allocative efficiency indicated that agrochemical was underutilized while fertilizer and labour were over utilized. Results from the inefficiency model indicate that educational status of the farmers was the major source of inefficiency in cotton production. The study therefore suggests intensive awareness campaign and regular extension visits by concerned authorities in order to facilitate better usage of improved technology packages aimed at enhancing yield and farm income.

The study focused on the analysis of marketing White skinned Sweet Potato in selected markets of Kano State. Multistage sampling techniques was used for the study and data was collected using a structured questionnaire supplemented with key informant interview. A total of one hundred and seventeen 117 white sweet potato marketers were sampled. The analytical tool employed included simple descriptive statistics, net marketing margin, Gini Coefficient, marketing efficiency and multiple regression of the respondents in the study area. The result of the socio economic characteristics showed that 33% of the white sweet potato marketers were adult belonging to the age group of 30-39 years, 60% of marketers had household size of 1-10 members, 41% had 1-10 years of marketing experience, 91% were married with 91% males, the result of educational background study area shows that 46.8% had informal education. The result of the profitability analysis revealed that white sweet potato marketing was profitable with ₦574.52 and the total revenue realized for the marketing were ₦3,829.06. The result further revealed Gross Margin (GR) of 0.85 traded in the study area while return per naira invested was found to be 1.18 accrued from every 1.00 invested. The result also revealed that marketing of white sweet potato was efficient with 225.27%. The study further revealed variables such as: marketing experience, labour costs, transportation costs, loading and off-loading were found to be statistically significant. Results also indicate that the major determinant of net marketing income in the study area included labour 

The study focused on the profitability analysis of marketing of cereals by-products used as livestock feed in Kano State. Multistage sampling technique was used for the study and data was collected using structured questionnaire supplemented with key informant interview. A total of one hundred and seventy-eight (178) cereals by-product marketers were sampled. The analytical tools employed included descriptive statistics, net marketing margin analysis and marketing efficiency. The result of the socio economic characteristics showed that 12% of the cereals by-products marketers were adult belonging to the age group of 43-52 years, 51% of them had household size of 1-6 members, 43.8% of the cereals by-products marketers had 14-22 years of marketing experience, 94.9% married with 88.6% males, the result of educational background of legumes by-products marketers in the study area shows that 44.9% had Qur'anic education. The result of the profitability analysis revealed that cereals by-products marketing were profitable as the marketing margin for sorghum bran and maize bran were N323.34 and N470 respectively. The total revenue realized for the marketing were N1796.67 and N2083.33 for sorghum bran and maize bran respectively. The result further revealed Gross Margin (GR) of 0.01 and 0.01 for sorghum bran and maize bran traded in the study area while return per naira invested was found to be 1.09 and 1.16 accrued from every N1.00 invested for legumes by-products marketing. The result also revealed that marketing of legumes by-products was efficient with 254.17% and 306.16% for sorghum bran and maize bran respectively indicating that marketing of these by-products was profitable and efficient in the study area. The study recommended that since cereals by-product marketing is a profitable enterprise more youth should be encouraged to venture into the enterprises this will go a long way in reducing unemployment in the study area.