International Journal of Management and Social Sciences Research (IJMSSR) ISSN: 2319-4421 Volume 2, No. 6, June 2013 i-Xplore International Research Journal Consortium www.irjcjournals.org 8 Resource-use Efficiency in Acha Production: A Case Study of Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria Gidado E.H, Bogoro Local Education Authority, Bogoro Local Government Area, Bauchi State. Adebayo E. F, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Federal University of Technology, Yola. Daniel, J.D, Crop Science Department Adamawa State University, Mubi Nigeria. Alama, M. K, living Faith Church, Mile Six Jalingo Taraba State, Nigeria ABSTRACT The study examined the resource – use efficiency in Acha production in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi state. It focused on the socio – economic characteristics of Acha farmers, Resource–Use efficiency and Constraint affecting Acha production in the study area. Data were collected from a random sample of 140 Acha farmers using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to describe the socio – economic characteristics of the respondents and regression model to determine the contribution of the variables captured in Acha production. The result revealed that about 64% were males while 82% of the respondent were in their active age of 20-50 years, 92% have more than 5 people in their families. The result also showed that 71% of the farmers were married, 55% had one form of formal education or the other and about 70% had more than 10 years farming experience. While 68% had average farm land of 1.8 hectares about 76% of them depend on their personal savings to finance their farming. The Cobb- Douglas production function gave the best fit equation with an R 2 of 0.64 which means that about 64% of the variability in output is being explained by the variables included in the model. The analysis showed that age, family labour, hired labour and quantity of fertilizer applied were positively related to the output. The result also indicated that, farm size, hired labour and farm size were significant at 1% while family labour was significant at 5%. Resource productivity analysis revealed that hired labour and quantity of fertilizer were over- utilized while family labour was under – utilized. The major problems facing the farmers include in-adequate modern farming technology; soil fertility depletion, harvesting and processing problems, pest and disease. Others include poor market, lack of awareness of marketing outlets and in-adequate loan/credit facilities. A policy recommendation should be focused on training the farmers on how to utilize the resources available effectively more especially labour and quantity of fertilizer used is imperative. Keywords: Efficiency, Resource, Resources, Production, Acha, Bauchi, Nigeria. INTRODUCTION Inadequate food supply is one of the most serious problems facing Nigeria economy (Shehu et al, 2007). For thousands of years Africans have depended mostly on their fruits, roots/tubers and cereal crops for their subsistence. The paradox of suffering in the midst of plenty is seen in the total neglect of most of these African cereals believed to be important nutritionally and its area of production because the crops are more adopted to our soil and also in consumption (Philip and Itodo, 2006). Acha contain about 7% crude protein that is high in leucine (9.8%), methlonine (5.6%) and valine (5.8%). It is believed that its methlonine content is twice as high as those of egg protein (Temple and Bassa, 1991). Because of the nutritional value, Acha is highly recommended for diabetic patients by doctors (Philip and Itodo, 2006). However, due to the decline and total neglect of the production in the continent where it was once regarded as a lost crops of Africa though it still remain as important food crop for millions in West Africa (Ayo and Nkama, 2006). Generally speaking, the cultivation of Acha is on the decline due to its low yield and difficult preparations. Acha falls into this group of lost crops of Africa (Philip and Itodo, 2006). Our total dependence on crops introduced to Africa as a source of live hood is continuing to pose serious challenges to food insecurity in the African continent. This is because such crops though give high out put under favourable conditions, are cost intensive and in adaptable to our environment. For example, maize cannot give its usual high yield under, adverse conditions like moisture stress, lack of fertilizer and other input while most of these indigenous crops like Acha can give a relative high average yield under these adverse conditions (Philip and Itodo 2006). The potential for the production of this grain in West Africa and Nigeria is high as it is superior to other cereals in performance under moisture stress and low soil fertility. It also has good capacity to respond to improved inputs (Philip and Itodo, 2006). It is against this background that this study seek to determine the resource use efficiency of acha production in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi state.