Global Journal of Biology, Agriculture & Health Sciences

Abstract

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS AND PRODUCTIVITY IN BANANA AND PLANTAIN PRODUCTION

Kainga Prince Ebiowei;Okorji Chukwuemeka Eugene; Nweze Noble Jackson

The study examined the socio-economic characteristics and relationship between socio-economic variables and the outputs of banana and plantain farm enterprises. A sample size of 180 farm households was involved. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and Cobb-Douglas production function model. The findings showed that average age, average farming experience and average family size was 45 years, 4 years and 6 persons respectively. About 84.4% were married while 75% had farming as their primary occupation. Approximately 70.6% could read or write in English. Age of farmer, educational attainment and family size were negatively related while farmer’s experience, age of banana crop, extension access and farm size were positively related to banana output. All the socio economic variables were positively related to plantain output. Farmer’s experience, extension access and farm size for both enterprises and age of plantain crop had strong relationship (P< 0.05). There was significant difference between the output of banana and plantain farm enterprises (F-Statistic = 12. 34478, probability of F-Statistic P= 0.00). Only farm size was statistically significant (t-Statistic = 5.293212, P = 0.00). It means that, an increase by a unit of farm size will lead to a unit increase in farm output in both banana and plantain farm enterprises. While F-ratio of 46.44 and 51.72 for banana and plantain respectively were significant at 5% level of probability.

Published Date: 2013-10-12;