Re: Shockingly high plantain prices in Nigeria

First, I’d like to thank those who have sent comments, suggestions and questions regarding plantain prices in Nigeria.

I intend to answer these questions to the best of my abilities over the next few weeks. Meanwhile, so that some of the points raised in the initial article https://daraalegbeleye.com/2024/03/22/why-plantain-a-nigerian-staple-costs-a-fortune/ are adequately clear for a wide audience, I thought to highlight a few vital points:

1- Some of plantain’s attributes include the following:

It is a high-yielding crop that typically yields numerous bunches of fruit throughout its lifespan https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/inpho/docs/Post_Harvest_Compendium_-_Plantain.pdf).

It thrives under Nigeria’s tropical weather conditions.

Unlike annual crops, plantain continues producing fruit through offshoots, minimizing the need for replanting.

Plantain is resilient and flourishes in various soil types and can even tolerate drought conditions.

Plantain is a good source of essential vitamins like vitamins A and C, dietary fiber Mayo Clinic Dietary Fiber: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983, and potassium.

Plantain serves as a source of income for many Nigerians and can serve other purposes such as livestock feed.

Although the crop should be otherwise productive and affordable, it is very costly in many parts of Nigeria.

2- Experts attribute this to the following factors:

Low yield problems: limited investment in genetic improvement (https://ifst.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijfs.14780, https://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/seeds-pgr/sow/en/ and proper agronomy practices contribute to the problem.

Poor post-harvest (e.g. transportation and storage) facilities contribute to losses, further impacting availability and prices.

Nigeria’s population growth puts a strain on existing food resources.

3- Charting a course for improvement: expert propositions to make plantain more accessible include:

Development of products like plantain flour or chips and other value-added ventures to increase shelf life and economic value.

Development of high-yielding, disease-resistant plantain varieties is crucial.

Relevant stakeholders should explore approaches to extend growing season or otherwise optimise year-round production.

Utilization can be diversified by amongst other approaches, encouraging the use of plantain beyond ‘dodo’.

It is also vital to explore strategies to unlock new market opportunities.

Let us further leverage the power of collective knowledge! Share your thoughts using “dodo” in the headline: se************@gm***.com

Are outdated farming methods hindering plantain productivity?

Who should champion research for improved plantain varieties?

Can advanced breeding techniques from other countries be applied in Nigeria?

How can we optimize plantain cultivation for higher yields?