TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF CORN FARMERS: THE CASE OF SAAD PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES IN MAITUM SARANGANI PROVINCE

The study was conducted in Maitum Sarangani Province from November to December 2021 to determine the technical efficiency of the SAAD corn farmers' beneficiaries. Specifically, the study aimed to identify corn farmers' sociodemographic characteristics, analyze Corn Production's profitability, and determine the farm management practices. Farmers and determine the factors significantly affecting the level of technical efficiency of corn production in the study area. Data were analyzed using purposive sampling and Stochastic Frontier

The result shows that most of the farmers are male with an age range of 30-60 and most of them were high school level. The majority of the corn farmers also had the same farm management practices in which traditional methods were used. Some use a tractor with implements, and some use a plow. Farmers used direct seeding, and off-baring and hilling up were being practiced. In addition, manual harvesting was used by the majority. Also, most of them had enough farming experience; however, only a few were assisted by Agriculturists. It could be noted that corn production is profitable, with an ROI of 120%.

Also, the study revealed that the cost of seeds, cost of fertilizer, cost of pesticides, and labor costs significantly affected Technical Efficiency. Based on the study's results, the researcher would like to recommend that the Corn farmers use the labor, fertilizer, educational attainment, and several years in corn farming to achieve higher OPV yield. The government may provide fertilizer for the corn farmers. It may increase the productivity of the corn production of the corn farmers. The government may offer regular visits to the corn farmers to monitor them.