Effects of Demographic Factors on Plantain Production in Southern Part of Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effects of demographic factors on plantain production in Edo State, using Ovia Northeast Local Government Area as a case study. Primary data were collected with a multistage sampling procedure. Ten (10) plantain farming communities (Utese, Uhen, Egbeta, Ogbese, Okada, Iguomo, Aghanokpe, Ugbuwe, Ofunwengbe and Ugboke) were purposely selected and fifteen (15) plantain farmers were selected randomly from the communities to get a total of one hundred and fifty (150) respondents. Data were analysed using descriptive and regression statistics. The Findings revealed that majority (66%) of the farmers were male, with average farm size of 2.63hectares, mean age of farmers at 40 years, educational level of secondary school, farming experience of between 11 and 20 years respectively. The regression analysis shows that education level (0.255), marital status (0.149), farm size (0.666) and farming experience (0.603) coefficients were positive, an indication that these variables have direct effect on plantain production in the study area. About 55.7% variation in the farmers output were explained by the demographic factors which also are confirmed by F-ratio (25.489) that is significant at-level of probability. Based on the findings, government should facilitate policies towards education of farmers, subsidize alternatives to labour for farm activities and enhance availability of arable land to plantain farmers in Edo state.