Analysis of land exchange practice and its effects on technical efficiency of rice farmers in north-eastern zone of Nigeria

This study analyzed the practice of land exchange in Norther-Eastern zone of Nigeria. Four hundred (400) rice farmers under irrigation farming were selected using multi-stage sampling procedure to provide data by means of structured interviews. The results of the descriptive analysis showed that farmers exchange land (16.07%) in the study area through the means of land exchange for use (or farming purpose) and land exchange for property. Number of plots, reduction of distance among plots, practice of mechanization, reduction of production cost, and improvement of efficiency are factors influencing farmers to exchange land in the study area. The result revealed that farmers were technically efficient, and that efficiency could be increased given the level of technology and efficient use of available resources. The result of the beta regression showed that household size, rented land, and hired labor have positive effects on technical efficiency, whereas farmers’ perceptions of land development have a negative effect on technical efficiency. However, it was found that the practice of land exchange did not affect the technical efficiency of rice farmers in the study area. It is therefore recommended that the government policy should clearly state rights related to the use of lands and encourage land transactions such as rent among farmers, the sale of rights of occupancy, or the transfer of leasehold rights so as to strengthen the land market and improve the efficient use of land. Keywords: Beta regression, Land exchange, Nigeria, Rice, Technical efficiency.