African Journal of Agriculture Technology and Environment Vol. 7(1): 99-108 June, 2018 E-ISSN: 2346-7290 Evaluation of technical efficiency of sawmills in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria 1 Ohwo, O. A. * , 2 Adeyemi, A. A. and 1 Ighofose, E. 1 Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Delta State University Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria 2 Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria *Corresponding author (E-mail: oghenekevweabigail@gmail.com) ABSTRACT This study was designed to evaluate the technical efficiency of sawmills in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to obtain information from the thirty (30) sawmills in the study area. Questionnaire and on-the-spot assessment were used to obtain necessary data from the respondents. Data on demographic characteristics were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage. Three hundred (300) logs were measured and the volumes of each species sawn were obtained using Newton’s formula. About 21% of the respondents obtained their logs from natural forest within and outside the state, and 73% of them trained their sawyers. All the respondents utilize band saw for sawing logs with 40% having circular saw in addition, for secondary processing. Majority (70%) of the respondents maintained their machines by greasing. Varieties of species including Gosswellerodendron balsamiferum (Agba); Pycanthus angloleusis (Akomu); Hallea ciliata (Abura); Nesogandonia papaverifera (Danta); Poga oleosa (Oleku) and Alstonia boonei (alstonia) were sawn in the various mills with Poga oleosa being the most sawn (38.68 m 3 ) and Nesogandonia papaverifera the least sawn (0.82 m 3 ). The result revealed that Alstonia boonei has the highest technical efficiency (53%) with Nesogordonia papaverifera having the least (32%). The sawmill level of technical efficiency was low (46.5%), indicating that the mill generated a lot of wood wastes. Continuous training of sawyers and replacement of obsolete machines with modern ones to improve efficiency and encouraging industrial outlets to utilize the wood wastes to minimize negative impacts on forests and environment were recommended. Keywords: Technical efficiency, waste reduction, lesser-known species, lumber recovery INTRODUCTION Timber is a very important raw material useful in various works of life (Oguntade et al., 2012). Douglas (1995), noted that prior to the 19 th Century and till date, timber was, and is the most important material used for construction and energy generation. Over the years, there has been significant harvesting of timber from the forest estate for sawmilling activities using a variety of machines such as band saw that breaks down logs into desired specification; re- sawing machines for processing the cants and flitches into specified and marketable dimensions (Aina, 2006). A sawmill is said to be efficient when it has high lumber recovery ratio (Badejo 1990). 99