Assessment of Value Addition in Plantain Processing in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study focused on the assessment of value addition in plantain processing in Edo State, Nigeria. It specifically identified the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, determined the cost and returns of processing plantain into three of its products (plantain flour, fried chips and dried chips) and estimated value added through processing. Data for the study were collected using a well structured questionnaire administered to 90 processors of plantain at random in the study area. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, gross margin and profitability analysis. Value added was estimated using the net profit approach. The result of the study shows that the processing of plantain in the study area was dominated by females (87%) who were married (83%) and educated up to primary school level (41%). The average age of the respondents was 51 years and average
processing experience was 14 years. The results also showed that the processing of plantain into the products studied was profitable with a gross margin of N288.6, N380.37 and N419.11 per kg of raw plantain for fried
plantain chips, dried plantain chips and plantain flour respectively. The result of the profitability analysis showed that for every one kilogram of plantain processed, the processors earned N274.11, N372.77 and N405.31 for fried
chips, dried chips and flour respectively. Analysis of value addition showed that it was profitable to process into any of the three products examined in this study but processing into plantain flour was found to be more profitable as the value of the product could increase appreciably by a ratio of 25:1.