.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
Return
Assessing the productivity effects of agricultural extension on smallholder maize efficiency through a meta-frontier and endogenous switching framework in the Eastern Cape Province; South Africa
.png){kind=icon}
OA
AI
A
L
O
DOI：10.3389/fsufs.2026.1856107.png)
.png){kind=icon}
Original request for help.png){kind=icon}
Share.png){kind=icon}
Save
Abstract
En 中文
Maize remains central to food security and rural livelihoods among smallholder farmers in South Africa; particularly in the Eastern Cape Province. However; persistent yield gaps indicate that improved input use alone is insufficient without effective knowledge intermediation. This study moves beyond conventional impact assessments by examining how agricultural extension services influence technical efficiency under heterogeneous production environments. Using cross-sectional data from 306 smallholder maize farmers in the Chris Hani and OR Tambo District Municipalities; the study applies stochastic frontier analysis; endogenous switching regression; and a stochastic meta-frontier framework to control for selection bias and technological heterogeneity. Descriptive results indicate that 57% of farmers were female; with an average age of 60 years and a landholding of 8 hectares. The findings reveal that agricultural extension services significantly enhance maize productivity; with an average yield gain of 0.81 tonnes per hectare. Farmers with access to extension services operated at 93% technical efficiency; placing them closer to the production frontier and indicating superior production performance compared to non-participants; while the overall mean efficiency level was 77%; indicating room for improvement. Extension participation is influenced by education; income; credit access; market participation; and farmer organization membership. Farmers with access to extension services recorded a Technology Gap Ratio (TGR) of 0.95; indicating that they operated very close to the meta-frontier technology; whereas non-participants recorded a TGR of 0.70; reflecting a substantial technology gap. In conclusion; agricultural extension acts as both a productivity enhancer and a technology equalizer. Based on the study results; the study suggests a paradigm shift from conventional agricultural extension delivery to adaptive; digitally enabled; and market-oriented advisory systems. Strengthening agricultural extension systems through mobile-based platforms; tailored knowledge dissemination; and inclusive targeting of resource-constrained farmers can significantly narrow efficiency gaps and promote sustainable intensification. These may include creating WhatsApp groups; SMS and voice records.
Keywords:
technical efficiency
agricultural extension services
Eastern Cape Province
meta-frontier
endogenous switching
maize farmers
Journal
IF:
3.1
Papers:
5.5K
Citations:
1.2W
Organization
No organization information available
Cited Papers