selcuk j agr food sci Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences 2458-8377 2458-8377 Selçuk Üniversitesi 10.15316/selcukjafsci.1669510 Farm Enterprises Agricultural Management of Nutrients Çiftlik İşletmeleri Besinlerin Tarımsal Yönetimi Analysis of the determinants of plantain production and profitability in Bayelsa State: Prospects for human nutrition Analysis of the Determinants of Plantain Production and Profitability in Bayelsa State: Prospects for Human Nutrition https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9117-8263 Aroyehun Adeyinka University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3847-5891 Edaba Micheal University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5455-3060 Cookey Aloma Kenule Beeston Saro Wiwa Polytechnic 04 28 2026 40 1 242 259 04 10 2025 04 11 2026 Copyright © 1991, Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences 1991 Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences

This study examines the determinants of plantain production and profitability in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, and their implications for human nutrition. Data were collected from plantain farmers using structured questionnaires and interviews with 120 farmers. The research used descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including multiple regression analysis, binary logit model, costs and returns, and profitability indices. The mean age of the farmers is 52.4 years, 81.7% are married, with a mean of six households and a mean farming experience of 19.52 years. Variance Inflating Factor and tolerance show that multicollinearity does not exist among the variables. The double-log functional model was chosen as the lead equation with an R² of 95.11%, where age (-0.1290), farm size (0.9151), market accessibility (-0.0073), and improved variety (0.0047) significantly determine plantain production. The high covariance percentage (0.97) of forecasting performance indicates a great capacity to reproduce real patterns. A profitability index (PI) of 45% and a return on investment (ROI) of 82% show that plantain farming is profitable. Furthermore, plantain has a high nutritional value for human health, although only 22% of people are aware of it in their diet. Farmers are unable to maximize their profits due to challenges such as limited market access, high input prices, and post-harvest losses. Plantain production has the potential to become a more profitable and sustainable sector, boosting economic growth, ensuring food security, and improving human nutrition in Bayelsa State and across Nigeria. To boost plantain production and nutrition, the research recommends investing in better road networks, storage facilities, market infrastructure, farmer education, and extension services.

This study examines the determinants of plantain production and profitability in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, and their implications for human nutrition. Data were collected from plantain farmers using structured questionnaires and interviews with 120 farmers. The research used descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including multiple regression analysis, binary logit model, costs and returns, and profitability indices. The mean age of the farmers is 52.4 years, 81.7% are married, with a mean of six households and a mean farming experience of 19.52 years. Variance Inflating Factor and tolerance show that multicollinearity does not exist among the variables. The double-log functional model was chosen as the lead equation with an R2 of 95.11%, where age, farm size, market accessibility, and improved variety significantly determine plantain production. The high covariance percentage (0.97) of forecasting performance indicates a great capacity to reproduce real patterns. The profitability index and return on investment show that plantain farming is profitable. Furthermore, plantain has a high nutritional value for human health, logistic regression shows that nutritional awareness of plantain is mainly driven by education and access to information. Farmers are unable to maximize their profits due to challenges such as limited market access, high input prices, and post-harvest losses. Plantain production has the potential to become a more profitable and sustainable sector, boosting economic growth, ensuring food security, and improving human nutrition in Bayelsa State and across Nigeria. To boost plantain production and nutrition, the research recommends investing in better road networks, storage facilities, market infrastructure, farmer education, and extension services.

 Food security nutrition plantain production theory Food security nutrition plantain production theory Adewumi, M. O., & Adegbite, D. A. (2015). Determinants of crop productivity among smallholder farmers in Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 17(2), 45–56. Adi, D. D. (2024). The role of plantain in promoting food security: A review. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 15(1), 313-335 Agbagwa, S. K., Agbugba, I. K., & Maponya, P. (2021). Comparative analysis of plantain and banana marketing in Port Harcourt city metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development, 2(60), 161-167. Akinola, A. A., Ogunlade, I., & Adebayo, O. O. (2018). Determinants of nutrition awareness among rural households in Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 22(2), 45–56. https://journal.aesonnigeria.org/index.php/jae/article/view/165 (access date: 02.02.2025). Anderson, J. R., & Feder, G. (2007). Agricultural extension services. In Evenson RE, Pingali P (Eds.), Handbook of Agricultural Economics, 3, 2343–2378. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1574-0072(06)03044-1 Aroyehun, A. R., Ugwuja, V. C., & Onoja, A. O. (2024). Determinants of melon farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate change hazards in south-south Nigeria. Scientific Reports, 14, 17395, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-61164-6 Asfaw, A., & Admassie, A. (2004). The role of education on the adoption of chemical fertiliser under different socioeconomic environments in Ethiopia. Agricultural Economics, 30(3), 215–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agecon.2002.12.002 Ayinde, O. E., Daramola, C. O., Animashaun, J. O., & Oloyede, W. O. (2017). Consumption and expenditure patterns of plantain-based foods in rural and urban areas in Kwara State, Nigeria. Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 6(1), 1-16. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7828/jmds.v6i1.1031 Barrett, C. B. (2008). Smallholder market participation: Concepts and evidence from eastern and southern Africa. Food Policy, 33(4), 299–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2007.10.005 Bernard, T., & Spielman, D. J. (2009). Reaching the rural poor through producer organizations? A study of agricultural marketing cooperatives in Ethiopia. World Development, 37(1), 82–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.08.001 Confidence, C. A., Orokwu. C., King, S. A., & Etuk, V.U. (2023). Analysis of cost and returns of plantain production in Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Applied Economics, Agriculture and Management Sciences, 1(1), 126-134. Davis, K., Nkonya, E., Kato, E., Mekonnen, D. A., Odendo. M., Miiro, R., & Nkuba, J. (2012). Impact of farmer field schools on agricultural productivity and poverty in East Africa. World Development, 40(2), 402–413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2011.05.019 Doss, C. R. (2001). Designing agricultural technology for African women farmers: Lessons from 25 years of experience. World Development, 29(12), 2075–2092. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(01)00088-2 Evenson, R. E., & Gollin, D. (2003). Assessing the impact of the Green Revolution, 1960 to 2000. Science, 300(5620), 758–762. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1078710 Fafchamps, M., & Minten, B. (2012). Impact of SMS-based agricultural information on Indian farmers. World Development, 40(10), 2010–2028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.03.001 FAOSTAT. (2023). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Rome. http://faostat.fao.org/ (access date: 24.01.2025). Fischer, E., & Qaim, M. (2012). Linking smallholders to markets: Determinants and impacts of farmer collective action in Kenya. World Development, 40(6), 1255–1268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2011.11.018 Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). (2020). Trade and market: Banana facts and figures. Banana Cultivars. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. http;//www.fao.org/economic/est/estcommodities/bananas/bananafacts/en/#. XjQQDB7TU0N (access date: 02.02.2025). Gujarati, D. N., & Porter, D.C. (2009). Basic econometrics (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill. Hosmer, D. W., Lemeshow, S., & Sturdivant, R. X. (2013). Applied Logistic Regression (3rd ed.). Wiley. Joel, L., Jongur, A. U., Adebayo, E. F., & Amurtiya, M. (2020). Economics of plantain production among farmers in Northeast Nigeria. Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology, 10(4), 536-541. Mendez, M., & Popkin, B.M. (2004). Globalization, urbanization and nutritional change in the developing world. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 1(2), 220-241. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5021665_Globalization_Urbanization_and_Nutritional_Change_in_the_Developing_World (access date: 12.01.2025). Morgan, N.C., & Kainga, P. E. (2024). Effect of pre-harvest losses on profitability of plantain production in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Research Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development, 3(1). Nafack, T. J. B., Ngo, N. L., & Kana, S. M. M. (2023). Plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.): Production, consumption and processing in Cameroon. American Journal of Food Science and Technology, 11(1), 8-14 Newilah, G. N., Vepowo, C. K., Nzimi, R. N., Kengne, C. K., Ngouno, A. T., Nana, C. K., Meli, V. M., Gouado, I., Dufour, D., & Mbeguie-A-Mbeguie, D. (2024). User preferences and consumer acceptability of boiled plantain in rural and urban localities in Cameroon. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 04, 4838-4850. DOI:10.1002/jsfa.13090 Nkwain, K. T., Odiaka, E. C., Ikwuba, A. A., Fatty, L. K. M., & Gam, A. T. (2022). Pre-harvest losses of Musa spp. and food security situation of households in Sub-Saharan Africa. Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports, 16(2), 28-40. Nweke, F. I. (2016). Production economics of root and tuber crops in Africa: Input-output relationships. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 11(18), 1648–1659. https://academicjournals.org/ajar (access date: 02.02.2025). Obare, G. A., Omamo, S. W., & Williams, J. C. (2010). Smallholder production structure and rural roads: The case of Nakuru District, Kenya. Agricultural Economics, 41(2), 161–168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-0862.2009.00418.x Ochieng, J., Afari-Sefa, V., Lukumay, P. J., & Dubois, T. (2017). Determinants of dietary diversity and the potential role of men in improving household nutrition in Tanzania. Food Policy, 69, 64–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2017.03.002 Ojediran, E. O., Ibrahim, H. K., Adebisi, L. O., Belewu, K. Y., & Owolawi, S. (2018). Analysis of profitability and determinants of plantain production in Ife. Journal of Agriculture and Human Ecology, 1(1), 77-86. Okunola, O. S., Olapade-Ogunwole, F., & Adesiyan, O. I. (2022). Profitability analysis of plantain production in Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 40(10), 1097-1106. Oladeebo, J. O., & Fajuyigbe, A. (2010). Technical efficiency of men and women upland rice farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 5(16), 2260–2266. https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR/article-full-text-pdf/0B6C4C439561 (access date: 12.03.2025). Olayemi, F. A., Adekunle, A. A., & Ayinde, O. E. (2019). Age and productivity among smallholder farmers in Southwest Nigeria. International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research, 5(3), 123–135. Olumba, C. C., & Onunka, C. N. (2020). Banana and plantain in West Africa: Production and marketing. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 20, 15474-15489. https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.90.18365 Oniah, M. O. (2019). Determinants of factors affecting plantain (Musa spp) production in Cross River State, Nigeria. Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology, 6(1) 60-68. Otekunrin, O. A., Otekunrin, O. A., Momoh, S., & Ayinde, I. A. (2021). Nutrition knowledge and dietary diversity among households in Nigeria: Evidence from national data. Sustainability, 13(5), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052715 Owoeye, R. S., & Osundare, F. O. (2018). Technical efficiency of plantain production in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Journal of Advances in Agriculture, 8(1), 1203-1213 Ruel, M. T., Alderman, H., & the Maternal and Child Nutrition Study Group (2013). Nutrition-sensitive interventions and programmes: How can they help to accelerate progress in improving maternal and child nutrition? The Lancet, 382(9891), 536–551. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60843-0 Samuelson, P. A., & Nordhaus, W. D. (2001). Economics (17th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education, New York. p. 792 Tey, Y. S., & Brindal, M. K. (2015). Factors influencing farm profitability. In Lichtfouse E (ed.), Sustainable Agriculture Reviews. Sustainable Agriculture Reviews, 15, 235-255. DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-09132-7_5 Udoh, E. J., Okon, E. J., & Etim, N. U. (2018). Determinants of cassava and plantain production in southeastern Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Food Economics, 6(2), 45–55. Wooldridge, J. M. (2010). Econometric analysis of cross section and panel data (2nd ed.). MIT Press. World Mapper. (2021). Plantain production. https://worldmapper.org/maps/plantain-production (access date: 14.01.2025).