Managing Farm Risk: Issues and Strategies in Plantain Production in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined various risks and their management strategies in plantain production under tropical condition. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select two hundred plantain farmers in the two ecological zones within Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and importance index. A comparison of the results of the two zones was undertaken. The results of the analyses revealed that shortage of capital, poor transportation system and shortage of labor (in that order of importance) were the important risks confronting plantain farmers in the study area. Diversification of income sources, native safeguard and diversification of farm enterprises were the most common strategies employed to manage the risks in the study area. Research effort should be directed at obtaining effective and efficient storage and processing technology to reduce or eliminate risk associated with the high perishable nature of plantain.