Effects of Road Infrastructure on Plantain Production among Farmers in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Road infrastructure is crucial to farmers’ productivity, transportation, marketing of food produce and food security. Therefore, this study examined the effects of road infrastructure to plantain production among farmers in Ekiti South Local Government Area. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 103 respondents for the study; data were collected using structured interview schedule. Data on respondents’ personal characteristics, perceived contribution of road infrastructure to plantain enterprise and constraints to plantain production and marketing were analysed with descriptive statistics, Chisquare and Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistical tools. Majority (75.7%) of the respondents were males, large percent (70.8%) were ageing (50-70years), 71.8% cultivated 4-6 acres with a majority (79.6%) having more than 20years of farming and marketing experience. Almost half (47.6%) of the respondents earned between #31,000-#40,000 monthly and majority (78.6%) indicated that their farms to the market were far and not motorable. About (65%) indicated that poor road infrastructure had negative implication on production and marketing of plantain. Educational level (χ2=14.13), farm size (χ2=0.932), monthly income (χ2=7.938), farming experience (χ2=11.831), marketing experience (χ2=10.609), farmers age (r = -0.375) and constraints to production and marketing (r = 0.261) were significantly related to effects of road infrastructure on plantain production. Hence, it is recommended that government should ensure quality rural feeder roads linking urban areas for sustainable farming practices, reduction of postharvest losses and efficient plantain marketing.