Utilizing Spent Plantain Pseudostems to Grow Vegetables for Additional Income to Farm Households in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined value addition using plantain trunks to grow vegetables as an additional source of income to farm households. Using of a questionnaire to elicit responses from 120 plantain farmers in Edo State, we used descriptive and inferential statistics to examine the socioeconomic characteristics, return to leafy vegetable production, perceived environmental impacts and the challenges to adopting the innovation. Results from the study show that 62% of respondents were females. Lettuce and Spinach were the prevalent leafy vegetables grown. The return to leafy vegetable production was NGN, 258,378.42K/Ha/season fewer production costs. This return was 39% of the average returns to plantain production/Ha/Year. Decaying pseudostems adding to the manure to the soil through humus formation and reduced pollution from agrochemicals and fertilizers were some of the perceived environmental impacts of the innovation. Low market prices of vegetables, shortness of the shelf life of vegetables, costs of seeds were the major challenges encountered by farmers who adopted the innovation. The study concludes that the innovation was viable with the possibility of expansion. The study recommends further drive of the innovation to other plantain producing regions of Nigeria, and plantain farmers are also encouraged to explore other uses of their farm “waste”, environmental specialist and other promoters of eco-friendly production and investors should partner with these plantain producers to add value to products and ‘wastes’. The right and supporting policies to sustain the adoption of the innovation should also be put in place by the authorities concerned.