Economics of Plantain Production in Calabar Agricultural Zone, Cross River State, Nigeria

This project work dealt with the Economics of Plantain Production in Calabar Agricultural zone, Cross River State. The specific objectives of the research were to examine the socio economic characteristics of plantain farmers, identify the different farming practices in the area, analyze cost and returns relationship of plantain farming, and problems militating against plantain production in the zone. A multistage random sampling technique and purposive sampling technique were used to administer structured questionnaire to 90 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage and mean, while budgetary analysis was used to determine the profitability of plantain farming. The results showed that majority (94.4%) of the respondents were male with the age bracket of 51-60 years with mean of 56 years. The finding also shows that 44.44% of the respondents have 6-10 years of farming experience with a mean of 9 years. The result further shows that many of the respondents do not have good qualification, rather majority have primary education representing 61.11%. Most of the farmers’ savings were personal savings as only source of capital. Most of the farmers have <360 plantain produce annually. The results of the budgetary analysis showed that the calculated gross margin is N191,400 and benefit cost ratio of 1.7, so plantain production is profitable. The result also shows that net profit is estimated at N123,415 and a gross ratio of 0.7. The major problems confronting the farmers in the zone is land tenure, lack of inputs and poor storage facilities. To improve p-lantain production in the study area, it is recommended that government should establish various research centres, provision of farm inputs, provision of low or no interest rates loans for the procurement of required inputs.