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Abstract
The study applies the single-stage modelling stochastic frontier approach to investigate the performance of maize farmers in the
Ejura-Sekyedumase District of Ghana. It estimates the level of technical efficiency and its determinants for 306 maize farmers. Findings
indicated that land, labour and fertilizer influenced output positively whilst agrochemicals and seeds affected output negatively. A wide
variation in output was also found among producers of maize. The study further revealed that age, sex and off-farm work activities were
significant determinants of technical inefficiencies in production. Results from the maximum likelihood estimate of the frontier model showed
that averagely, farmers were 67% technically efficient, implying that 33% of maize yield was not realized. The return to scale which
measures the productivity level of farmers was 1.22, suggesting that the farmers are operating at an increasing returns to scale.