Identification of indigenous ripining technologies of banana and plantain fruits among women-marketers in southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The study identified and documented the indigenous ripening technologies of banana and plantain used by the women in Southeastern Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 120 banana and plantain women marketers, using structured interview schedule. Percentage and mean statistic were used in the analysis of the data. The findings indicated that the mean age of the banana and plantain women marketers was 30.8 years and majority (69.2%) of them were married with a mean family-size of five. A greater percentage (60.8%) of the respondents had primary school leaving certificates, while 27.5% had no formal education. The wives played prominent role than their husbands and children in banana and plantain ripening and marketing activities. Different indigenous ripening technologies were being used. The most commonly used ones in combination with some suitable ripening containers (such as drums, wooden-boxes, pots, baskets, polyethylene/jute bags, sacks, clothes, tarpaulin etc, placed in a cool-dry place) were: the African bush mango fruits (Irvingia smithii and Irvingia gabonesis); spraying of cold and warm water; and heating in the sun for a short period of time. The implications of the findings for banana and plantain indigenous ripening technologies extension education were drawn. Agro-Science Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 60-66