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 influences 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. 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 age ranged of 31-50 with the mean age of 44 years. Male (51.9%) dominated plantain production in the study area. 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 the mean of 5 persons, 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 significant relationship with plantain production at various probability levels indicating profitability. Based on the findings, it was therefore, recommended that there is 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 organization can support in terms of granting farmers soft loans in putting such to reduce the burden.