Effect of Pre-Harvest Losses on Profitability of Plantain Production in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the effect of pre-harvest losses on profitability of plantain farmers in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio economic characteristics of plantain farmers, examine pre-harvest losses of plantain on profitability and determine factors that influence pre-harvest losses of plantain. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select five (5) local government areas (Yenagoa, Ogbia, Kolokuma-Opokuma, Sagbama and Southern Ijaw) purposively based on their predominance in commercial plantain farmers and six (6) communities each from the 5 LGAs respectively, and, furthermore, eight (8) plantain farmers in each community, making a total number of two hundred and forty (240) plantain farmers. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit the required information from the selected respondents. The result indicates that 55.1% of the respondents fall between the age range of 31-50 years, with the mean age of 44 years. Males (51.9%) dominated plantain production in the study area. The majority of the plantain farmers were married (60.0%), 95.5% had formal education, 60.0% had 1-15 years of farm experience, 77.9% were part-time farmers, 98.3% had family size of 1-10 persons in their households with a mean of 5 persons, and 56.7% had farm size of 2-4 hectares. The result further shows that 56.7% used hired labour while 86.7% had no month contact with extension agent. Sucker, fertilizer, household size, and educational level had a significant relationship with plantain production at various probability levels, indicating profitability. Based on the findings, it was therefore recommended that there is a need for the farmers to put up parameter fencing to prevent theft cases which is extremely high and adversely affects net farm income. However, government and non-governmental organizations can support in terms of granting farmers' soft loans in order to reduce the burden.