ECONOMIC OF PINEAPPLE PRODUCTION

ABSTRACT

Nigeria pineapple production remains low when compared to other producing nations. The production output of the crop has been attributed to inefficient use of available inputs. Hence this study was conducted to assess the Economic of pineapple production in Ovia South West Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling procedure was used to sample 100 pineapple farmers. Structured questionnaire administered to respondents was used to collect data for the study and total of 98 questionnaires were retrieved. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, cost and return and stochastic frontier production function. The results showed that 64% of pineapple farmers in the study area were male and 36% of them were Female. Budgetary analysis revealed that pineapple farming in the study area was profitable with an average net profit of ₦127516.76. The result of the study also revealed that the technical efficiencies of the farmers with a mean of 0.57 which indicates ample opportunity for the farmers to increase their productivity through improvement in their technical efficiency. Farm size, labour and quantity of suckers were found to be statistically significant and positively related to output while farming experience of the respondents negatively influenced farmers’ technical inefficiency, Pest and disease infestation (mean = 4.98), lack of improved varieties (mean = 4.97), poor cultural practices (mean = 4.95), poor storage (mean = 4.95), inadequate planting materials (mean = 4.92), low pricing (mean = 4.92), transportation (mean = 4.81) were the prominent constraints to pineapple production in the study area. It was concluded that profitability of pineapple production in the study area is low and Farming experience had significant effect on farmer technical inefficiency. The study recommended that policies that would focus on ways of attracting and encouraging the youths who are agile and stronger to embark on pineapple production should be pursued. Such as setting up of fruit processing factories or industries in the rural areas where they are produced