AN ANALYSIS OF LABOUR USE EFFICIENCY FOR A1 FARMERS IN MARONDERA DISTRICT OF ZIMBABWE

ABSTRACT
Labour productivity and technical efficiency of farmers in tobacco and maize production in Zimbabwe were studied in Marondera District. Primary data were collected from 30 tobacco and maize A1 farmers selected using convenient sampling. Data analyses was done using the multiple linear regression and the Linear Programming approach to understanding resource allocation. Results showed that labour from hired and family source was mostly used in tobacco production and permanent labour in maize production. High R square values of is 0.819 and 0.918 were noted for maize and tobacco models respectively. The amount of labour allocated towards maize had a strong significant (p=0.000) effect on maize productivity but a negative (-1.454) relationship between labour allocation in maize and the associated productivity. Net worth of livestock had a negative (-0.961) and significant (p