Description

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 investment opportunity in the supply of the product to local industries in Nigeria through feasibility report.

As one of the major staple food in Nigeria, plantain products in the chef of many Nigeria families include dodo (fried ripe pulp), chip (fried unripe pulp) and as plantain flour.

Plantain flour has advantage over other starchy foods because it contains protein, mineral and vitamins and medically plantain can be used to cure a lot of ailments including sore throat, tongilolitis diarrhea vomiting and it is said to be a major diet in the production of soy-musa which can be used in the treatment of kwashiorkor.

There is a great potential for the processing of plantain. It could be processed to food/foodstuffs such as breakfast cereals, baby food, (soymusa), flour, chips and snacks food. Industrial product of plantain processing includes wine/beer, syrups, vinegar, biscuit, among others.

The situation highlighted above has created a large and expanding market for the sales of unripe plantain in Nigeria and an opportunity for savvy investors to take position.

The return on investment on the trading of unripe plantain is estimated between 10%- 15%.