Abstract:
Collet' is one of the most important export •ommoditie.s' in Kigoma region.
UnfOrtunately, production is still low and information on technical efficiene• has
remained is scarce. This .sititly sets our to contribute towards efforts for improving
coffee productivity to enhance the cash income of smallholder Arabica coffee farmers
in Kigoma region, Tanzania. The present .study estimated the Technical Efficiency
(TE) and inefficiency effects of inputs. The paper uses data collected from a sample of
122 farmers. Parameters of the generalized Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier model
for the production .system were estimated by a single stage Maximum Likelihood (ML)
method for the technical efficiency and technical inefficiency effects using the Frontier
version 4.1 c, a computer program for Stochastic Frontier Production. The results
show that inorganic fertilizers. agrochemicals and labour are kcv inputs. The mean
Technical Efficiency index is 68'!;, indicating that farmers are technically inefficient,
with a 32V'i, scope for increasing Technical Efficient (TE).The number of coffee trees
and ti farmer's experience arc the main determinants of TE. The study recommends
: farmers to increase application of productivity enhancing inputs. Moreover, there
should be deliberate it/ICI-WI-Won on farm expansion, and training to engage youths in
coffee production .since they tend to he more technically efficient thereby improving
the production system's TE
