Profitability and Determinants of Adoption Intensity of Improved Plantain Production Technologies in Ogun State, Nigeria

Nigeria must increase its current level of plantain production to meet the demands of its ever-growing population and exploit the crop’s foreign exchange earning potential. Agricultural output growth can best be achieved through improved production technologies. However, the adoption and utilisation of these improved production technologies have not been encouraging in Nigeria. Therefore, this study examined the smallholder plantain farmers’ awareness of improved production technologies, factors influencing their adoption intensity, and plantain production profitability in Ogun State, Nigeria. Primary data was collected with a well-structured questionnaire administered to two hundred and forty (240) plantain farmers randomly selected through a multistage sampling procedure. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Poisson regression model and Gross margin analysis. Findings showed a high level of awareness among farmers for some technologies, while awareness was very low for staking/propping, tissue culture, and de-budding. The Poisson regression model result revealed that the farmer’s age, years of education, access to credit, farming experience, awareness index, and access to extension services (p≤0.01) positively influenced the adoption intensity of improved plantain production technologies in the study area. The cost and return analysis revealed that plantain production is profitable in the study area with an estimated gross margin/ha and a benefit-cost ratio of ₦545,510 and ₦ 2.26, respectively, indicating that the enterprise will yield ₦2.26 for every ₦1 invested. The study recommends encouraging farmers’ adoption of these technologies by fostering their awareness levels through extension agents and other relevant stakeholders.