Profitability and constraints of pineapple production in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Pineapple is a delicious tropical fruit with a fine flavour and high nutritive value. It is one of the most important commercial fruit crops in the world. Despite its popularity, no proper data on the costs of its production in Nigeria are available. The study determines profitability and constraints of pineapple production in Osun State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to obtain information from 50 respondents using purposive and random selection. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and budgetary technique. Results indicated that majority of the farmers were males, aged 53.7 years on average and engaged full time in pineapple production. The modal level of farmer’s education was primary. The average period of experience in pineapple farming was 13.5 years. The gross margin and net profits in Naira (Nigerian currency) were N182 725 and N162 045, respectively. The questionnaire in the study contained the most serious problems confronting pineapple farmers: limited availability of high quality planting materials, high fruit perishability, low fruit prices, low access to credits and plant diseases. Availability of high yielding pineapple varieties, establishment of cold storages to reduce fruit perishability, agricultural price support programmes, easier access to credit from formal sources and farmers’ education were considered essential to improve productivity and profitability of pineapple production in Nigeria.