Does practicing healthy lifestyles improve the technical efficiency of farms?
International Journal of Social Economics
ISSN: 0306-8293
Article publication date: 26 September 2023
Issue publication date: 19 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to ascertain if practising healthy lifestyles improves the technical efficiency of farms in Kwara state, Nigeria. In theory, all deviations from the optimum level of output are due to random effects and inefficiency of producers in which their health plays a key part and is dependent on the kind of lifestyle practiced whether healthy or unhealthy.
Design/methodology/approach
Cross-sectional data were employed through a three-staged sampling technique to pick 320 arable crop farmers across the state using a well-defined questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics, healthy lifestyles index (HLI), stochastic production frontier (SPF) and propensity score matching (PSM).
Findings
First, the analysis showed that about one-third of the sampled arable crop farmers practised healthy lifestyles. Second, the average technical efficiency of arable crop production for farmers who practised a healthy lifestyle was 0.893, and the level of technical inefficiency of the farms was determined by health-related lifestyle status, number of day's illness and educational level. Third, technical efficiency was improved by 0.00431067 for farms whose farmers practised a healthy lifestyle.
Originality/value
Rather than seeing that technical efficiencies of farms are attributed to farm characteristics, inputs used and socioeconomic characteristics alone, the findings suggest that technical inefficiencies of arable crop farmers were also due to the kind of lifestyle practised, which was evidenced in the increased efficiency for farmers who practised healthy lifestyle.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-05-2023-0353
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Since acceptance of this article, the following author have updated their affiliations: Oluwaremilekun Ayobami Adebisi is at the Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR), Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria.
Citation
Adebisi, O.A., Muhammad-Lawal, A. and Adebisi, L.O. (2024), "Does practicing healthy lifestyles improve the technical efficiency of farms?", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 51 No. 5, pp. 641-654. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-05-2023-0353
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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