Analysis Of Determinants Of Agricultural Production In Togo

Agriculture production is still highly dominated by smallholder farming system in Togo. Low production has been the result of lack of the necessary infrastructure in the rural areas. In the past, small households have suffered from limited access to credit facilities, modern technology, farm inputs and knowledge and information on efficient use of resources. Maize is the main crop which occupies more than 47%the largest area devoted to food. Maize is a major cereal consumed by all Togolese households. It has great dietary and economic importance. Given this prime position of maize in Togo’s economy, there is the need to examine the factors that have affected agricultural productivity of smallholder maize farmers in Togo.This study’s objective is to analyze the factors that determine agricultural productivity, the socio-economics factors of farmers that determine agricultural input use and the role of seed technology and road infrastructure in agricultural productivity in Togo.Therefore, the most outstanding questions are: Which factors affect agricultural productivity of maize producers in Togo? What are the determinants factors for input use in maize production? And what are the relevant policy recommendations that can enhance a new agricultural technology use to improve agricultural productivity?To answer these questions, quantitative analysis of data were involved using two models: Cobb-Douglas Production Function to find which determinants factors affected maize production and the productivity, Probit model was used to analyze the factors that affected the use of inputs.This study used own survey data collected in 2015, whereby a sample of 408 small households farmers from maize production in 5 regions(Maritime, Plateaux, Central, Kara and Savanes).Based on the finding it can be concluded that:1. Harvest areas, household size, fertilizer have positive sign and are statistically significant. These factors have an impact on maize production in the study areas. Hence, 1% increases of harvest areas, household size, fertilizer increases the probability of maize production by 0.99%; 0.05% and 0,008% respectively.2. The effect of farmers’ location on maize production in the model shows that Central region ‘coefficient sign is positive and statically significant. This may indicate that increase a number of farmers located in this region for maize production will increase the production of maize by 12%. This implies also that Central region is affected by dependence of rainfed on maize production. By applying fertilizer on seeding; farmers can grow quickly and fast during the rainy season.3. The result from Probit model shows that land cultivated, education level, extension service and farm income of household have positive coefficients and are statistically significant.