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Tag: plantain

  • Expectant mum allegedly kills woman over plantain bunch

    Expectant mum allegedly kills woman over plantain bunch

    An expectant mother, Esther Godday, has been arrested by the Rivers State Police Command for allegedly stabbing one Mrs. Imeran Idema to death.

    Godday, a mother of nine children, allegedly killed Idema for trying to stop her from fleeing with a bunch of plantains she stole from a plantation.

    It was gathered that Godday committed the alleged offence on January 28, at Agada village in Abua, Rivers State.

    Desperate to get food for her hungry children, Mrs. Godday was said to have sneaked into the plantain plantation belonging to the Idema family.

    After successfully cutting off the plantain from its stem, she was said to have been on her way out when Mrs. Imeran Idema, who was keeping watch on the plantation for her family told her to drop the bunch of plantains but Mrs. Godday refused.

    She was said to have fled towards another exit but was chased by Idema, who threatened to use the cutlass she had in her hand on Godday if she dared move another step.

    An argument soon ensued between them, following which Idema used the machete to stab Godday on her leg to prevent her from running further.

    Angered by the development, Godday put down the bunch of plantain and descended on Mrs. Idema.

    She allegedly inflicted multiple injuries on her with own machete, leaving the plantains and the bleeding owner inside the plantation.

    Sources revealed that it was Idema’s scream that attracted other members of her family who immediately took her to the hospital for treatment.

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    Although she died from the injuries she sustained, Mrs Idema was able to tell her family the person who injured her and what led to it.

    A report was filed at the police station and Godday was subsequently arrested.

    When the police saw the injury the eight-month pregnant woman had on her leg, she was sent home to go and treat herself and was rearrested two days later.

    “When she got to the police station, she received the information that Imeran had died.

    “Esther, who has been charged to court, expressed her remorse to the police while in custody. “She said she prayed daily, wishing the deed could be undone,” a source said.

    Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olatunji Disu, urged people to think carefully before making life choices.

    He charged heads of households to procreate within their means and lead responsible lives.

    The police boss also highlighted the dangers of responding to emotions, warning that a crime will always be met with justice regardless of the prevailing circumstances.

  • How to make Plantain Frittata

    In search of a lighter and healthy breakfast idea? Plantain frittata is the ultimate plantain and egg breakfast recipe you should try.

    It is different, easy to prepare and of course very delicious.

    Don’t just fry your plantain and eggs separately, try this recipe! It includes chicken sausage which gives it a meaty texture and it also includes a fair share of veggies.

    Ingredients
    2-3 very ripe plantains
    7 eggs
    1/2 cup chopped onion
    3 cloves garlic – minced
    1 large roma tomato – chopped
    1 cup chopped bell pepper I chopped one green bell pepper
    2 tablespoons oil
    1 1/2 cup chopped sausage I used chicken sausage
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1 teaspoon bouillon powder substitute with 1 4g stock cube (e.g Maggi)
    1/4 teaspoon ground white or black pepper
    Oil for deep frying the plantains
    1/2 teaspoon oil (for greasing pie plate)
    Parsley for garnishing (optional)

    Method
    1. Peel plantains then cut into 1/4 inch slices. Place oil in a pan up to 2-3 inches and heat up to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Gently place the plantain slices into the oil one at a time then fry on one side for about 2 minutes. Flip to the other side and cook for another 2 minutes Remove and place on paper towel to absorb excess oil.

    2. Place the two tablespoons of oil in a skillet and heat up on medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute until fragrant. Add the chopped tomato and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the sausage and stir for about 2 minutes. Add the bell peppers and salt, black pepper then stir for about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.

    3. In a large bowl, crack in all the eggs. Add the bouillon powder and whisk to combine. Add the sausage-bell pepper mixture into the eggs then mix. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

    4. Rub a pie place with about a teaspoon of oil. Pour the egg mixture into the pie plate. Arrange the fried plantains on top of the egg mixture. Note that some of the plantains may shrink – that is totally okay.

    5. Place the pie plate in the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes. Now remove and check to make sure the egg is set in the middle. If it is set then take it out. If it isn’t set, place it bake in the oven and turn of the heat. Let it stay in the oven for about 5-10 minutes then take it out.

    6. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired then cut up into triangles and serve warm. So so good!

  • New method of multiplying plantain for farmers

    New method of multiplying plantain for farmers

    To farmers cultivating plantain on a large scale, getting suckers to buy is difficult because of their prohibitive cost. But farmers are now exploring a cheaper technique of multiplying suckers for planting, reports DANIEL ESSIET .

    Chief Executive, Sendulus Consulting, Clifford Eborgu, is a young agro-entrepreneur  in Oyo State.

    To him, agro-business is lucrative, especially plantain farming segment. With assured market, higher returns and low-risk factors, plantain farming holds the ace in agro-business.

    But despite this, getting good suckers can be a challenge for starters and young farmers because of their rising cost which, of course, depends on their grade. For a farmer cultivating plantain on a large scale, this could be pretty expensive, just as it has been a challenge accessing high-yielding and disease-resistant plantlets. Many a farmer still rely on old low-producing suckers.

    However, a method for rapid multiplication of plantain suckers, which promise to end the problems faced in getting sufficient planting material has emerged. Known as macro propagation, the innovative method   provides an affordable, simple and relatively rapid technique for multiplication of plantain  for  small and medium scale farmers.

    It  has the potential to overcome challenges faced by farmers,  such as increased unavailability of seedlings at farm level with the assurance of affordability, quality, true to type and choice of cultivable seedlings to farmers, which allow a single sucker to have up to 15 plantlets.

    The method, according to Eborgu, gives better yields in addition to quick maturity than the normal suckers.

    With the method, one can induce a sucker to sprout  to between 8-15 new ones. The size of the sucker determines the number of plantlets that will sprout.

    After propagation, it takes at most three weeks to see the plantlets shoot from the sucker and three months to have the suckers ready for planting.

    Eborgu said farmers, who want to make money producing suckers need propagators. According to him, propagators are used for sprouting of new seedlings and hardening of the subsequent sprouts.

    He explained that propagators, or seedbeds, can be made from wood, plastic or concrete cement constructed at ground level or above ground. Their sizes, according to him, can vary and depend on the production objectives. He added that a greenhouse should be built around the propagator.

    An agribusiness consultant, John Bosco, also based in Oyo, was trained by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). He has a large  plantain plantation   that  has stood out to be more productive,  giving him much money. He is growing tissue culture plantains  that  are earning more than what traditional varieties fetch.

    One acre approximately can hold between 450 and 540 plantlets, depending on the spacing. Key among the many benefits of the plantain being produced through this method is that plantlets go through a process, which results in starter material that is clean and free from pest and diseases.

    The suckers are obtained from a particular mother plant  to  enable traceability if resulting ‘sword suckers’ are diseased. According to him, macro propagation is the method of sucker multiplication in the field. It is one method of plantain sucker multiplication that produces relatively clean and healthy plantain suckers between two and four months.

    According to him, farmers need to build simple propagators that can be constructed using fairly cheap materials, such as bamboo and polythene sheets. They can also use iron rods and cast a concrete floor.  To operate the system, he  said  farmers are required to fill the propagators with steam-sterilized fine sawdust.

    Experts said steam sterilisation of sawdust can be performed, using an oil drum. After applying the sawdust into the drum,  Bosco advised  that the sawdust must be covered with old potato bags.

    “Heat is applied under the drum, using firewood and steam from the water to sterilise the sawdust. Steam is passed through this construction for one hour,” Bosco said.

    To him, production cost for a small scale macro-propagation facility, including a propagator, shade, initial suckers, substrates and plant care requirement, nursery bags and labour cost, should be around N300,000. One sucker should produce 10 plantlets, while 300 suckers will produce  3000 plantlets. According to Bosco, one sucker can produce between 10 and 50 plantlets, depending on the variety of plantain and the experience of the farmer.

    He explained that the productivity and lifespan of plantain can be affected by pest and disease pressures. According to him, macro-propagation, a simple technology, enhances plantain production through rapid multiplication and timely delivery of sufficient high quality seedlings. This technique, he added, can greatly boost food security and income generation among small scale farmers if properly adopted for ensuring sustainability.  He added that it can be carried out under the shed or in the open field.

  • Ikeoluwa and Idi-Oro, best for cheap plantain

    Ikeoluwa and Idi-Oro, best for cheap plantain

    I shop here because this is the only place I can get cheap plantain to buy and resell. My customers are sure of cheap plantain when they visit my stall.” These were her words, Mrs Adigun Boluwatife, a regular trader at the Ikeoluwa plantain market, along ikorodu express way where according to her plantain is sold cheaper than anywhere else in Lagos.

    Findings by the Nation Shopping  confirms that indeed Ikeoluwa perishable food market situated at Owode Onirin- Mile 12 and Alumutu Market, Idi Oro- Mushin are two markets mainly for cheap heap of plantain, ripe and unripe. For instance, at Ikeoluwa market, more than12 bunches are sold for N10, 000, N15, 000 and N20, 000 depending on their sizes, those  arranged in bags are between N2, 500 and N 3,000.

    It is the same at Idi Oro market where a heap of plantain sells for  N9, 500, N 12,000, N15, 000 and N20, 000 while those in bags for N3, 500, N4, 000.

    ?Idi Oro market takes care of Mushin, Yaba, Oshodi, Daleko, Ojuelegba and its environ, while Ikeoluwa market serve people in Ikorodu, Ketu, Ikeja, Magodo/Shangisha, Ojota, Ojodu/Berger up to Sango and Agbado-Ijaiye axis.

    However,The Nation Shopping observed that Idi Oro market has more patronage compare to Ikeoluwa as some regular traders to Idi Oro say they cannot cope with the distance to the other markets from their homes.

    Mrs Olawale Ibidun visits the market regularly, her words: ” I cannot afford to transport plantain from Owode ?to Isolo where I resell and even if i get, how much will be my gain considering cost of transportation.”

    Ikeoluwa market has existed since March 2014 and gathered more traders from various outlets , some of whose markets were either razed by fire or displaced traders who were forced to relocate. Also Idi Oro market, which has been in existence for decades has its own peculiar stories.

    Aside the main trade, plantain,  other items like yam, Koko yam, pepper, plastics, bags of Garri, bags for packaging and cherry fruits, are

    sold in bulk.

    Available at these markets is the Lagos State Waste and Management Agency (LAWMA) truck always available  for waste disposal.

  • Myro releases visuals for Plantain remix

    Budding Nigerian entertainer, Oghenemairo Daniel Ozah, aka Myro has dropped the visuals of the remix of his chart topping single, Plantain, featuring the Musical Taliban, Oritse Femi.

    Directed by C.A.R.D.O.S.O Imagery, the artiste says that the Plantain video simply represents what a colourful video should be all about, with a very beautiful carnival concept which just shows his progress as an artiste, with Orise Femi in his usual element.

    The video, he says, caps a very impressive year for Myro and with 2016 beckoning; expect more from the man himself.”

    The Masterpiece Entertainment star is a multi-talented and versatile singer, song writer and rapper born in Ajegunle, Lagos. He grew up in the Surulere area of Lagos. As a child, he was tutored in the performance arts by the legendary Joke Silva and Olu Jacobs at the Abbey Junior mixed and Infants school, Ikeja.

    He grew up listening to Shabba Ranks, Plantashun Bois and Kanye West. He always attended stage plays growing up and says Jimi Solanke is his icon.

    Myro is a super fan of basketball and once nursed the ambition of been a professional basketballer after a stint with an armature basketball club in Lagos State, but had to give up the ambition to pursue his music career.

    He began music professionally in the year 2010, and has had Collaborations with Oritse Femi, Mode 9, Terry the Rapman, and Vector.

    Myro is also a T-Shirt designer and is reputed for the success of the famous “Alobam” merchandise by Phyno.

    Plantain was produced by Puffy Tee.

  • Wanted: Plantain processors

    Wanted: Plantain processors

    Are you looking for a job? Thousands of jobs are coming in plantain processing. Job’ seekers can plant plantain, process it into chips, and flour( for diabetic patients), among others. AKINOLA AJIBADE writes.

    LOOKING for jobs? Why don’t you try plantain processing? Plantain can be processed into chips, flour and others.

    A report entitled: An economic assessment of plantain production in Rivers State noted that plantain processing has helped in creating jobs for entrepreneurs, marketers and farmers, among others.

    The report described plantain processing as a significant economic activity for large and small-scale farmers.

    Plantain processing, it said, has the capacity to create jobs in many areas, if well-managed. It said the country has enough land for planting plantain, advising the unemployed to leverage on this.

    Total production of plantain globally is estimated at over 76 million metric tonnes. Of this, an estimated 12 million tonnes are produced in Africa, with Nigeria a  major producer, according to the report.

    About 70 million people in the sub-region, it said, get more than one quarter of their food requirements from plantain, adding that the market is huge for individuals and companies.

    According to experts, plantain processing has the capacity to create over 150,000 jobs in two years. They said people can work as drivers, marketers or machine operators in plantain processing companies. They said  the unemployed can go into plantain farming, harvest it, process it into  chips, and  flour for domestic and hospital needs.  The plantain flour is going to be sold in the hospitals , clinics and other  medical centres where  people that have diabestics are.

    Plantain flour, they said, is in high demand in hospitals because it is good for diabetic patinets.

    About 200 medium-sized companies can be established in a state with a minimum of 10 employees, the experts added.

    The Managing Director, Best Foods Limited, Mr Emmanuel Ijewere, said plantain processing offers immense job opportunities for people. The firm is into livestock farming. He said many people eat plantain in one form or the other, adding that there is huge market for the product in Nigeria.

    Ijewere said the demand for plantain outstrips its availability, adding that more people must plant plantain to increase the supply.

    He said: “From all indications, people  who are planting plantain are not enough. This means that more people must plant plantain either for home consumption or commercial purposes. Through this, the growing demand for plantain would be met in the country. This means job opportunities for the country. Besides, we do not have enough people in plantain processing.

    “Of note is the fact that plantain flour is gaining acceptability in the country. Many eat it as a substitute for amala. Medically, plantain flour is good for diabetic patients. Doctors are advising diabetic patients to eat plantain flour because of its nutritional value. You would notice that plantain market is becoming bigger by the day. This shows that as many people that go into plantain production would make money.”

    He said plantain processing has huge potential, advising people to think of what they can do with plantains for a living. He said plantain can be processed into consumables, offering different sources of making money. The market, he added is huge, noting that more jobs are coming for individuals and companies who go into plantain processing.

    Ijewere said more people would get jobs if plantain is grown quarterly in industrial manners.

    Also, a former banker, Mr Dickson Ayobami, said plantain can be processed into plantain chips to create jobs. He said unripe plantain is spiced and deep-fried to produce crispy chips, which can be packaged and sold as junks at schools and to travellers by vendors. He said fairly ripe plantain can be processed the same way, stressing that it can last for days without addictives if well-processed.

    Ayobami, now into plantain farming, said his plantation in Osun State has created jobs for many people. He said the plantation has helped in employing labourers, farmers, harvesters, drivers,  among others. He also said he employed people to market plantain chips in Osun, Oyo, and Ondo states, adding that many people eat plantain chips.

    He said branding is crucial to the growth of the business, urging graduates who intend to go into the trade to brand their products well.

    He said: “A lot of plantain produced is wasted, especially in the southern parts of the country. In some cases, the product is sold at a cheaper price. This is the time for the unemployed to look inward and create jobs for themselves. If the country has 100,000 people producing plantain chips, they are not enough. The educated ones have an advantage over the uneducated. It is compulsory that they should market plantain chips themselves. They can market, and pay them commission.”

    He said plantain flour production has a higher jobs prospect, adding that the plantain processing business involves procurement of matured plantain, peeling, chipping, drying, milling and packaging. He said people are required to work in these areas, adding that the process of producing plantain flour is mechanical, and that the food is recommended for diabetic patients.

    “When many companies go into production of yam flour to meet the needs of diabetic patients across the country, more people would be employed as marketers, and get paid.  Those who are educated would benefit because they would be able to convince patients to buy the plantain flour. This will have a multiplier effect on the economy”, he added.

    Ayobami said people who are going into plantain flour production must get a small factory, procure machines, install them, recruit people, and get approval from agencies regulating food production and packaging in the country.

    He said buyers, mostly diabetic patients, would buy the product.

    The Managing Director, Zion Hospital, Ikotun, Lagos State, Dr. John Adanike, said diabetic patients are advised to eat plantain flour to improve their health conditions.

    Adanike said such patients need the food for their health, adding that hospitals offer producers of plantain flours an opportunity to market their product. He said people give higher consideration to anything that has to do with health.

  • The rise of plantain chips business

    The rise of plantain chips business

    The transformation of plantain chips from a mere product into a money spinner, is  drawing  a lot of entrepreneurs. More Nigerians are showing interest. With income and consumption on the rise, plantain chips production is a perfect business option. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Plantain chips business is returning huge incomes as demand is  increasing .This  is because  the market  is  expanding  as   major highways have become top spots for the sale of plantain chips. Apart from sachet water, plantain chips occupy a special spot in the minds of the travelers in particular, and the general public.

    The transformation of plantain chips  from a humble product  into      a money spinner,  is  drawing  a lot  of  entrepreneurs. More Nigerians  are  showing  interest. Investors say the plantain chip business is one investment that is profit oriented.

    The Chief Executive, Farm Biz Set, Opeyemi Lawson, a plantain  farmer,   said  with  less than N20,000, one can start the business. This for one, starting small.

    The Managing Director, Spectra Foods, Chief Duro Kuteyi, fame is  traced to plantain chips packaging.

    Kuteyi, who is Vice President, National Association of Small and Medium Scale Industrialists, resigned from the Federal Ministry of Health in the ‘80s to establish a plantain chips manufacturing factory. His success  is traced to a plantain chips factory he established years back in 1982. He started the industry with N1,500.

    “His father in-law offered him a room from where he started the business. Kuteyi’’s plaintain chips industry grew and gave rise to Spectra Foods. Today, Spectra  has become a multi-product company , suco cocoa drink,cocoa beverage, frute pineapple juice,frute pineapple/ginger juice,soya instant drink,soya bakes and sesame oil

    But the secrets of investing in plantain chips have not changed significantly.“The equipment is  the same except that the costs have risen significantly.“For  a big  start  up ,according  to him,   one  requires a fryer, which costs between N100, 000 and N300, 000; sealing machine that costs between N500, 000 and N2m and a vehicle for distribution of the products, “Returns are in the region of N5m annually.

    For  those who  cant  afford this ,they  can  start  by  selling  packaged plantain chips.

    As   passionate  as  he is about  the business that   has  given  several youths employment, he  stated that processing of plantain chips is not devoid of challenges.“Sourcing for raw materials is a major challenge,” the quality of raw plantain affects the final product,the packaging and source of energy are very critical,then   the epileptic power supply and rising cost of gas are major factors that affect the cost of production. Apart from epileptic power supply, he  said the perishable nature of plantain requires that care be taken during post harvest processing.

    Howver, the  opportunities  are   limitless and, with right resources and management, it is not tough to attain success.

    To  bring  more Nigerians into the business, Kuteyi  said  his   organisation, Spectra Industries Limited Lagos is  hosting  a cluster  for   plantain chips production with an installed capacity of five tonnes per month. He explained that the cluster will  help farmers  benefit  from collective marketing and high quality machines to process chips.

    Under the scheme, his  organisation  will  help  Nigerians  establish  micro plantain chips  business   industries. They  can  rent the machines  if they  have money  to  buy the raw materials.

    Kuteyi, said  entrepreneurs will be enabled to have production facilities for less than five per cent of actual cost, while equity investors will be entitled to profit/dividend sharing.

    According to Kuteyi, “It is just a matter of providing industrial facility access, one of the benefits of this arrangement is that for someone who wants to set up a plantain chips plant instead of looking for about N10million to set up, all you need is a minimum of N100, 000 and you become a part owner of an already established plantain chips plant.” He explained that the plantain chips which comes in a unique variant to what is common in the market, can be consumed in novel ways never before heard of like the use of ketchup and peanuts.

    “It is a far upgrade from what plantain chips are generally known to be in the country. The chips are also of exportable quality in terms of packaging and standards with a shelve life of 12 months, the product is packed in 380gm containers and 70gm sachets,” he explained.

    He expounded that while Spectra has provided the equipment and factory space, financial contributions from cluster members will be used as working capital to sustain the expanded scope of production and cater for more employees that will be recruited.

  • Plantain business as money spinner

    Plantain business as money spinner

    Rising demand for plantain has created a new breed of farmers who have abandoned the traditional way of farming for a supposedly more lucrative aspect.  Daniel Essiet reports.

    A farmer, Shelu Abu,  was  tired of the meagre earnings from tomatoes and  foods sales   and  planned  to leave the country  in  search  of  greener  pastures. His trip  to  Cameroun

    made him to discover plantain cultivation as a goldmine.

    He said: “One day, a friend of mine suggested we travel to Cameroun and from there, I could sneak into any country of my choice because I had no money then.

    “When we got to Cameroun, I saw a farm close to where we were staying. I decided to apply for a job there since I studied agronomy. Fortunately, I was employed. What we do is that we plant the plantain suckers and when we harvest, they are taken to a production site where they are prepared for export to Europe and America.”

    He added: “Before they finish packaging, buyers are already waiting to pick them up and I saw the kind of money coming in.  We had about 300,000 suckers which multiplied. We were well paid so I told myself that the best thing is for me to go back to Nigeria and start my own farm.”

    Abu‘s fortune  changed for the  better when he discovered  the  potential  in plantain farming.

    As a result, he set out to look for capital to see off his dream.  He got in touch with other successful model farmers  to learn more and got tips for starting off.

    Shelu  plantain  farm in Ikorodu  is one such  farms that is successful. Its  success  is  a testament to the fact that plantain   farming could become  a fledging industry.

    The boom is partly due to the  exploding market  for  plantain  chips and  increasing  supply  of  plantain to top hotels and restaurants, where demand has gone up by 60 per cent. One of the benefits of plantain  farming is that wastage is very minimal.

    Shelu told The Nation that   plantain farming is  the  business  of  the future  for   entrepreneurs and  retirees.

    “When I came back, I  leased a plot of land and planted the 200 suckers I brought with me. People were mocking me, asking what on earth I was doing with plantain instead of getting a good job. After about eight months, I started harvesting.

    “My plantain trees are up to 18 feet high; they are so tall because of the nutrients and the taller they are, the bigger the fruits,” he said, adding: “I was making N7,000 to N8,000 weekly.  When I told the Baale (traditional ruler) of the area that I needed land for plantain farming, he pointed to this place (farm site) which was a thick forest then. He asked for only N5,000 and a bottle of Schnapps.

    “So I told myself that I could plant 1,000 suckers or more, to multiply my income. I placed an order for 5,000 suckers and planted them. Before this time, I had approached a first generation bank for loan. I discussed with them, but they asked for land, or C of O. If I have all that, why would I go to the bank to ask for loan? he queried.

    “It will be better to sell the land and use the money on the farm. If I have money, instead of using it to get C of O, I will put it in the farm. That is why I don’t bank with any bank in Nigeria. I save my money with my cooperative society because when I sold the idea to them, they bought it and came to my aid.

    “I brought the bank here and explained to them that I have 40,000 suckers on the farm and even if I sell for N500, I will make the money and pay back.” When the bank refused, Shelu approached his cooperative group. They provided the money and we were able to plant 40,000 suckers on that land.

    “When the plantain was six months old, I called the cooperative members and said, ‘look, there is war.’ When they came and saw the farm and the fruits, I told them the best thing is for us to buy the land. We discussed with the owners and they sold to us. The cooperative paid and kept the document thinking I would not be able to pay. But as I sold my plantain, I paid into their account and to God be the glory, I was able to offset the loan and I have 40 acres of land today.”

    According  to him, Plantain farming is good, anybody who goes into it will not have any problem because he will not need to weed. “One, you don’t weed, you use herbicides and harvesting is not stressful. Before it matures, buyers are already waiting. If you plant 60,000 suckers, you will be making about N800,000 weekly,” he said.

    Since he  started harvesting, he  has  created a lot of employment for  people  in this area. He  has  set up farms in various places for  people.  He  told The Nation  that one  can be succe4ssfulit   if one  plants 1,000 suckers. “In first harvest, one   can  get his  money back and make profit. After four months, one  can  come back to the same place and still harvest more,” he said.

    According to him, the  second harvest maybe better than the first as the trees would have multiplied to about 3,000.

    The Chief Executive Officer, www.farmingbizsetup.com  Opeyemi  Lawson, said  the  demand for plantain in the country is high, with suppliers struggling to meet the demand.

    To make money in  the  long  term, he  said,  one  has  to prepare a business plan. He explained  that   plantain plantation has  a long productive life  and  can be  done  alongside cocoa , which could  feed  one with good foreign exchange. Lawson  has therefore, produced a plantain farming business plan/ feasibility study on five   acres which  are practicable  across the  farming belts.

    A typical expenditure for  five acres, include 5000 suckers at the rate of N100 per sucker N500, 000; cost  of planting of suckers N250,000 at N50 per sucker, transportation  N80,000,weeding four  times in a year,N160,000 and fertilizer N25,000. He said  the  total expenditure  would be N1,040, 000.

    He said one  could make  twice as much profit  in a year: “Plantain is a very lucrative business; a bunch of plantain costs N600-N800, some could be sold for a higher price in the  market. Now imagine how much N800 could fetch when  multiplied by 5,000- that translates to a whoping N4,000, 000,” he siad.

    Another area one can make  money, he  said,  is  through plantain chip’s production.

    His  words: “Plantain chips production is one of the easiest businesses you can  generate quick cash at home. With an initial startup capital of N15, 000, you can generate income of at least N10,000 per day when you are able to produce 1000 packets of plantain chips on daily basis. The street price for a small sachet pack of plantain chips sells for as much as N100 in Lagos and in other parts of Nigeria.”

    To start plantain chips production business , he  said  one  requires plantain chips cutter or table knife, big fry pan,portable nylon sealing machine, gas burner or kerosene stove and weighing scale.

    The   production materials include some bunch of ripe or unripe plantain,vegetable oil, table salt, sugar, plain packaging nylon or customised nylon and printed label.

     

  • Plantain: From Cameroun with harm

    Plantain: From Cameroun with harm

    It takes almost a whole day to transport a lorry load of plantain from Okada, Uruomi and other parts of Edo State where it is grown in large quantities to Idi-Oro in Mushin and other markets in Lagos.

    At Idi-Oro, which is reputed to be the largest plantain market in Nigeria, there are various categories of traders. There are those who buy from farmers within the country and those who import from Cameroun, Benin Republic and other West African countries.

    It takes those in the latter group a minimum of two days to move their wares from wherever they are buying to Idi-Oro market where they sell to retailers and consumers.

    Although many customers rarely notice, traders at the market say there are slight differences between imported plantains and local ones.

    One of them, Alhaja Taibat Shittu, said the plantains from Cameroun and other countries are smaller in size compared to those grown locally. She added that traders who import do so because it is cheaper to buy from other countries and bring them into the market illegally.

    “Our plantains are bigger than the ones they import. But some traders here prefer buy from Cameroun and Benin Republic because it is cheaper and they bring them into Nigeria through illegal borders. I prefer to buy from our farmers here because I am used to them and even though it is expensive, I think it is better than the ones they import”.

    Trading in a perishable product like plantain comes with a catalogue of risks and the traders have various ways of dealing with them. To preserve their wares, some traders at the market especially retailers engage in some unhealthy practices. Those who sell ripe ones use carbide and ashes to quicken the ripening process while those who sell unripe ones sometime dump them in filthy places when offloading from the Lorries.

    Kingsley Izeh, one of the lorry drivers at the market, said the traders use the carbide and ash methods to enable them recoup their investments fast.

    According to him there is no health risk associated with ashes but there have been complaints about carbide because it contains some chemicals that are dangerous to human health.

    “If the plantains don’t get ripe on time, the traders will lose their money. That is why they use ashes or carbide. The ash is naturally because they also use it in the villages but there have been some complaints about the use of carbides but these traders won’t stop”.