Economics of Plantain Production in Edo State Nigeria

This Study examined the cropping pattern, profitability and constraints to plantain production in Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 150 plantain farmers were randomly selected from the list of plantain farmers in the study area as provided by the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) extension agents of the state. The sampled farmers were interviewed using well structured questionnaire. Simple descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and t-ratio was used to analysis the data collected, while the likert scale technique was used to identify the constraints faced by the farmers. The result revealed that 82 percent of the farmers were male while 18 percent were female. The mean age of the farmers was 44 years and the average farming experience was 22 years. Also, the average farm size was 1.7 hectare. The results also revealed that majority of the farmers (84 percent) practice mixed cropping as opposed to sole cropping (16 percent). When the cropping pattern was studied with respect to farm size, farmersʹ age and experiences the results showed that there was a significant relationship between these variables and cropping pattern. The results of the analysis also showed that the gross return was N255, 970.00/ha, with a total variable cost and fixed cost of N43, 410.60/ha and N9, 420.00/ha respectively. The net farm income was N203, 139.40/ha with a return per naira of 37.7% . The major constraints the farmers faced were transportation, labour, storage processing and finance.