COSTS AND RETURNS ANALYSIS OF DRY PLANTAIN LEAVES MARKETING IN ONDO-WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Marketing of plantain and its products has been a major source of income and livelihoods for the people both in rural and urban areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. However, empirical analysis on the costs and returns on marketing of dry plantain leaves is scarce in literature. Hence, the study investigated the profitability analysis of marketing dry plantain leaves in Ondo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select Sixty-five respondents for the study. Primary data for the study were elicited from respondents using structured questionnaire coupled with interview schedule. Data collected were analysed with the aid of descriptive statistics and gross margin analysis. Results showed the mean age of respondents was 44.5±8.2 years, 89.2 percent were male, and 73.8 percent were married. Mean household size was 7.0±2 members per household with 59.2 percent having Qu’ranic education and 78.5 percent of the marketers were Hausas. The gross margin was ₦138,058.80 with ₦0.74 returns on every naira invested. The study revealed that marketing of dry plantain leaves is a profitable venture in the study area. However, the business is faced with challenges such as; inadequate capital, seasonality and high cost of transportation, among others. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that marketers should be given adequate and access to collateral free loans, infrastructures should be provided to reduce cost of transportation and the market stalls should be organized.