Nigerian agriculture is characterized by considerable regional and crop diversity. Analysis of this sector, particularly the food sub-sector, is fraught with serious data problems. However, the available statistics provide a broad overview of development in agriculture upon which we can make some broad generalizations about its role in economic development and structural change in Nigeria.
In the 1960s, the agricultural sector was the most important in terms of contributions to domestic production, employment and foreign exchange earnings. The situation remained almost the same three decades later with the exception that it is no longer the principal foreign exchange earner, a role now being played by oil.
The sector remained stagnant during the oil boom decade of the 1970s, and this accounted largely for the declining share of its contributions. The trend in the share of agriculture in the GDP shows a substantial variation and long-term decline from 60% in the early 1960s through 48.8% in the 1970s and 22.2% in the 1980s. Unstable and often inappropriate economic policies (of pricing, trade and exchange rate), the relative neglect of the sector and the negative impact of oil boom were also important factors responsible for the decline in its contributions.
On its diversity, Nigerian agriculture features tree and food crops, forestry, livestock and fisheries. In 1993 at 1984 constant factor cost, crops (the major source of food) accounted for about 30% of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP), livestock about 5%, forestry and wildlife about 1.3% and fisheries accounted 1.2%.
One of the food crops grown in Nigeria is plantain. Plantain is among the foremost sources of carbohydrates in humid tropical Africa and contained 35% CHO, 0.2 to 0.5% fat, 1.2% protein, and 0.8% ash. In terms of gross value of production, plantain is one of the most important fruit in developing world. CBN (2003) indicates that plantain is one of the major stable food in Nigeria, it had the highest percentage increase in output over years 1999 to 2003, implying the existence of market potential but increase production in the country and Foraminifera Market Research seeks to expose the financial viability of producing plantain flour from raw plantain in Nigeria.
Plantain is a crop from the genus Musa. Its fruits are edible, and are generally used for cooking. This is different from the soft and sweet banana (which is often called dessert banana).
Plantain is producing in the following states in Nigeria Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Oshun, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Bayelsa, Abia and Ebonyi. Plantain sucker can be cultured on a farm for a period, say 3 months. If you buy a cultured 3 month old sucker and transplant on your own farm, it will take about 8 months from planting to harvest. A 3 month cultured sucker has attained a certain height.The improved variety sucker costs about N120.00 to N150.00 per sucker even from official sources.
Generally, the Plantain requires 10 to 12 months from planting to harvest.
Plantain are used domestically as fried slices (dodo) and plantain chips.The industrial uses are plantain flour/bread, cake/pancake,baby foods,wine,beer,dried flakes,biscuits and cookies.
Factors to consider before cultivating plantain in Nigeria includes land, choice of variety, time of planting, seed rate, seed dressing, spacing and other agricultural practice.
From the above, it is clear that a large and sustainable exist for plantain cultivation and production in Nigeria for both local and export market.
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