1.

0 Introduction
Plantain (Musa spp.) is a very important staples and source of income for the smallholders that
grow them in the humid forest and mid-altitude agro-ecologies of sub-Saharan Africa. The
importance of plantain cannot be over emphasized. The crop is widely cultivated by both rural
and urban populace. Plantain and its various products are in high demand, and this is reflected
by the relatively high price of plantain compared with other starch staple crops with the
exception of yam in Nigeria.

Plaintain has been reported to prove more than 25% of the carbohydrate and 10% of the calorie
for approximately 70 million people in the sub-Saharan region alone. It is cultivated along the
Coast of West and Central Africa stretching from Guinea to the Democratic Republic of Congo
and Central Africa Republic. Nigeria is a major producing country of plantain with an annual
output exceeding a million tonnes. Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO has stated that
Nigeria is one of the major producers of plantain in West and Central Africa, but the per capita
consumption for Nigeria is the lowest in the region, implying the existence of market potential
for increased production in the country. The production of plantain is however relatively static
despite its high demand partly as a consequence of the increased incidence of black sigatoka
disease, which has a strong influence on yield, and the green leaves, and other diseases and
pests.

Generally there are three types of Plantain crops, these include:

Banana
Plantain
Ornamental

This report aims to provide a technical and Operational Feasibility of plantain production in
Nigeria.

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2.0 Production

2.1 Soil requirement

The first thing to consider in the establishment of a plantain farm is the climate of the location
of establishment. The soils in Nigeria fall into four zones:

a) the northern zone of sandy soils;

b) the interior zone of laterite soils;
c) the southern belt of forest soils; and
d) the zone of alluvial soils.

Forest soils in the southern belt are naturally fertile as a result of dense vegetation cover. This
zone also contains laterite soils. Forest soils are good for cocoa, palm and rubber production
and are also the main soil types in the plantain and banana producing regions of Nigeria.
Plantain production is mainly in the Southern states of Nigeria, which include Akwa-Ibom, Cross
River, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Enugu, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Oyo states. Annual
rainfall in these areas is usually above 1000 mm year and spread over 7 to 9 months.

Plantain generally grows best in areas with an optimal mean monthly temperature of about 30
0
C. They generally have a high water demand, with approximately 25 mm per week being the
minimum for optimum growth. An average monthly rainfall of 100 mm, which is well
distributed, is considered the most optimal. However, with good management of available
water, plantain can even grow in areas with mean annual rainfall lower than 1200 mm.
Plantain cannot thrive in an environment that is too hot or too cold. The proposed land/soil for
your plantain farm must be a well drain land that is rich and naturally fertilized but if such is not
available, the land maybe manually fertilized using organic compost (e.g. green manure, chicken
manure etc.). Irrigation is also an option for large scale commercial farms but is unfeasible for
smaller enterprises.

Plantain requires a deep, well-drained loam soil with high humus content. A pH range of 5.6 -
7.5 is optimum. The plant also requires considerable amounts of Nitrogen, and Potassium (NK)
to maintain high yields. These can be supplied by planting on fertile soils or applying fertilizers
regularly

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2.1.1 Production Systems in Nigeria
Below are some of the common systems of plantain production practiced in Nigeria as of today:

1. The Plantain/Cocoa Intercrop:

In this system, plantain is planted alongside cocoa (Theobroma cacao), where it serves as nurse
crop during the early stages of development. This is common in the Western states of Nigeria
and in the Ikom area of Cross River state, where cocoa is an important cash crop. This system is
of vary viable ad profitable potential due to the recent cocoa rehabilitation program being
embarked on by the government of the area. It is however capital-intensive and not suitable for
areas with low cocoa-production level.

2. The Bush Plantain:

This is a complex mixture in which plantains are intercropped with many field crops such as
cassava, egusi melon (Citrullus spp), cocoyam (Colocasia esculentus) and yams. It is common in
the more humid area of the rainforest belt of the country (e.g. Ogun state, parts of Oyo-state,
Ondo State etc.). It is also a very potentially profitable system as it gives the plantation multiple
produce output and thus more source of income. It is however capital intensive and very
difficult to maintain optimally.

3. The Taungya Farming System:

Plantains are grown with forestry species (e.g., Gmelina arborea, teak (Tectona grandis), etc.).
Here the Musa spp. serve a dual purpose, first as a means of taking care of the trees and
secondly as a means of income before the maturity of the trees. The crops are phased out once
the trees are established. This is commonly practiced in Ogun, Ondo and Edo states. The
prevalence of this system in the last 20 years is low, but it accounts for about 10% of the total
production.

4. The Compound Production System:

Plantains are grown in various convenient points around the compound. The size depends on
how much space is available in the compound, how many people in the household are

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interested in owning mats and the need of the household for numerous other possible
compound tree crops. Bunch yield is usually high in this system and could be attributed to
application of organic matter from household wastes. This system is more predominant in the
Southeastern part of Nigeria, where most compounds are within land limited areas owing to
high population pressure. This system accounts for 1525% of total production. Despite the high
yield rates, this system of production is least recommended for commercial production practice.

5. Plantation Production:

This is commercial production under monoculture. It has rapidly increased in the last five years,
but the management has been poor due to lack of technical-know-how of owners and/or
supervisors. The contribution of this system over the years has not been successfully quantified;
however it is rapidly become one of the more common forms of plantain production in Nigeria.
It is less capital intensive as well as management intensive compared to the other commercial
production systems. This report most recommends this system.

2.2 Land Preparation

In plantain production, the system of production (see section 2.1.1) selected for production
activities determines the nature of land preparation to be carried out during crop
establishment. Preparation will also depend on the type of land and the type of farm, and
should be adapted according to available resources. Some months before planting, the land
should be systematically cleared, followed by selective felling. In forest zones, after clearing, the
dry undergrowth is burned. In savanna zones that have only sparse plant biomass, burning is
not recommended; systematic clearing is enough to prepare the land.

Generally, plantain fields should be prepared with minimum disturbance to the soil (Zero-tillage
farming). This means that vegetation or bush should be cut and carefully removed from the land
surface without turning or disturbing the soil underneath. In consequence, manual clearing
should be preferred to mechanical deforestation because bulldozers always remove topsoil with
the important organic matter and compact the remaining soil. When an old natural fallow is

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cleared, the debris from the forest should be burned if plantain cultivation is planned for 1 or 2
cycles only. If plantain is planned for more cycles, then green manuring may be considered.

Below are factors to be considered in site selection process. The figures given below are optimal
recommendations and may vary due to other factors;

Temperature: The optimal temperature for growing plantain is 28C. From 28 to 20C,
growth will gradually slow down, and will become negligible around 16-18C.
Light: Shade accelerates height growth. It is advisable to determine the density
depending on the cultivar selected, in order to provide the best light conditions for the
plantation.
Water: Plantain needs a lot of water. It should get around 200 mm per month
throughout its life cycle.
Wind: Plantain is very sensitive to strong wind, which can cause physical damage to the
plant (torn leaves, toppling).
Soil: Plantain grows best in deep soil that is well drained and rich in organic matter.
Fallow land can also be used, but the yield will depend on what was previously grown
and the duration of the fallow.

2.3 Propagation
Plantain can be propagated through various techniques; however macro-propagation is the
most common form plantain propagation in Nigeria. It is a relatively easy technique that is
carried out in a shed or even in the field. It consists of generating suckers from clean planting
material by removing the apical dominance. Macro-propagation can be classified into two
categories: field-based techniques, based on complete or partial decapitation, and detached
corm techniques, practiced in a shed.

Since plantain is most propagated vegetatively, there are several types of conventional planting
material some of which include:

Peeper: a small sucker emerging from the soil;

Sword sucker: a large sucker with lanceolated leaves, the best conventional planting
material;
Maiden sucker: a large sucker with foliage leaves;

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 Bits: pieces of a chopped corm. etc

Planting material can be collected from:

(a) An existing field, preferably an old field which is becoming unproductive. Otherwise damage
to the roots may be caused when the suckers are being dug out and many mother plants may
later tip over.

(b) A multiplication plot; which is planted only for the production of suckers and not to produce
bunches. Plant density (2 m x 2 m) is much higher than in production fields and suckers are
obtained by either decapitation or false decapitation. Both methods consist of removing the
growing point. In the first method, the pseudo-stem is removed to get to the growing point.
Only a small hole or window is cut for the second method. The foliage can remain active for up
to 3 months after the removal of the meristem by the second method.

(c) More commonly, planting material can be bought from the market or other successful, high
yield farms.

The figure 1 below shows the vegetative parts that may be used for propagation.

Fig 1: Vegetative parts of plantain used in Propagation

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As already mention Plantain can be grown together with other types of compatible crops
(cocoa, cocoyam) or as a single crop. In the latter case, each plot should comprise only one
cultivar. Plots should be as homogenous (contain the same plant variety or cultivar) as possible,
by selecting the same type of plant material (plantlet or sucker) within one plot.

When preparing suckers, they are separated from their mother plant with a spade or machete.
The sucker corm must not be damaged or chipped. Consequently the corm should be carefully
peeled with a machete. The pseudo stem of the suckers should be cut off a few centimeters
above the corm. Peeling of the corm delays the development of nematode infestation, while
cutting of the pseudo stem reduces bulkiness and improves early growth of the newly planted
sucker. The peeling process is just like that for cassava. A freshly peeled healthy corm ought to
look white, but corms infected by stem borers and nematodes show brown and black spots

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which have to be removed until only white tissue remains. If the infestation is severe, with many
brown and black spots, the sucker should be destroyed. Sucker preparation (peeling) is carried
out in the field where the planting material is collected. This is to avoid contamination of the
new field with roots infested with nematodes or corms with stem borers. Prepared corms are
transported to their destination where they are left to dry for a few days (not in the sun).
Suckers have to be planted within two weeks. Storage of suckers for more than 2 weeks will
adversely affect future yields.

For field cultivation, medium plantains should be preferred to giant ones even though giant
plantains produce heavier bunches. Giant plantains take longer to produce and are more likely
to be damaged by strong winds because of their size. The decision whether to grow a French or
a False Horn plantain cultivar should depend on which type the consumers prefer. Horn
plantains should never be cultivated as their yield is very low.

2.4 Establishment
Plantains can be planted throughout the rainy season. However, they should grow vigorously
and without stress during the first 3 to 4 months after planting, and therefore they should not
be planted during the last months of the rainy season. Planting with the first rains seems
agronomically sound but not financially advantageous. Most farmers will plant at the onset of
the rains, causing the market to be flooded with bunches 9 to 12 months after planting, when
prices will be very low. Planting in the middle of the rainy season is a better proposition as
plantains will then be produced off-season and get high prices.

In non-mechanized farming, plantains do not require any particular soil preparation. Planting
pits of 40 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm produce the best results. During this step, make sure to separate
the surface soil (10 15 cm) that is rich in humus from the deep soil. The pits will also be filled
with about 2 kg of well composted manure per pit.

Plant density (i.e. number of plantain stands per Hectare [Ha]) will depend on the climate, the
soil quality, the planned lifespan of the plantation and the cultivars selected. The higher the
density, the longer the lifecycle and the lighter the bunches produced.

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 In a monoculture, distances of 3m x 2m or 2m x 2m will give 1,666 to 2,500 plants/ Ha.
In mixed cultivation, distances of 4 m x 4 m or 4 m x 2 m will allow the farmer to use the
spaces between the plantain plants for other food crops.

There will be a low yield as of the third year because of an increase in parasite pressure and
reduced soil fertility. After harvesting, only one plant should be left to replace the mother plant.

Marking out: The field should be laid out according to the planting distances described above
and marked with stakes/poles of about two meters high.

Calibration: Plant calibrating involves grouping plants together according to size and weight.
Only plants with similar characteristics should be planted together.

2.4.1 Planting
Suckers are planted immediately after field preparation. Plant holes are prepared with a
minimum size of about 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm. Care should be taken to separate the topsoil
from bottom soil. The sucker is placed in the hole and its corm is covered, first with the topsoil
and then with the bottom soil. In the plant hole, the side of the sucker corm which was formerly
attached to the corm of its mother plant is placed against the wall of the hole. The opposite side
of the sucker corm is placed towards the middle of the plant hole, where the soil is loose. The
best sucker (the future ratoon) will emerge at the side opposite to where the planted sucker
was previously attached to the mother plant. If the land is sloping, the sucker should be so
oriented that its follower will emerge against the slope. That will delay the development of the
so-called high mat when the ratoon crop grows out of the soil and exposes the corm.

While planting, make sure the bottom of the pit does not fill with water. If necessary, mix black
earth with 10 to 15 kg of compost. Before planting, add 15 to 20 cm black earth to the bottom
of the pit. The plants should be placed in the pit with their scars facing the same direction in
order to facilitate their care and propping. Planting PIF plants is very delicate. Make sure each
one is planted so that the collar is visible. Pile up a little soil around each plant and avoid
planting them too deep.

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2.5 Management
Good growth in the first 3 to 4 months guarantees good productivity, as long as other measures
are not neglected. Therefore proper management is crucial in ensuring high product yield.
Below are some of the main management practices required by plantain crop

Weeding

Weed the plantation regularly during the first six months, using a machete or herbicide.
Herbicide can be used on weeds up to 10 to 15 cm in height; if they are higher, then they should
be cut with a machete. Herbicide should then be applied when they begin to grow back, but
should never touch the plantain plants.

Propping

This involves supporting the plantain plant by using some form of support or a cord, called a
prop, and use mainly for tall varieties or in areas that are subject to strong winds. Props should
be used when bunches begin to appear. See figure below for depiction of a plantain prop.

Trimming

Remove any old, dry leaves that hang down on the pseudostem (they can hide insects
and larvae).
Do not cut the green leaves as they are essential for ripening the bunches.

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 Approximately 2 to 3 months after harvesting the bunches, remove all remaining shoots
apart from two bayonet-shaped shoots, one large and one small.
Avoid weeds, dead leaves, pieces of pseudostem and other plant debris piling up at the
base of the plantain plants, where they could provide shelter for the banana root weevil
or other insects and larvae.

Pruning of suckers

This involves removing all the shoots that appear around the base of the parent plant in order
to reduce competition during the initial growth phase. After flowering, keep the strongest
sucker that is best placed in line with the plantation rows. Remove the others by cutting or
pulling them out; this should be done at regular intervals. The removed suckers can be used as
replanting material.

Caring for the bunch

Break the male bud 7 to 10 days after the appearance of the last hand around 20 cm long.

Mulching

Organic matter is essential for plantain cultivation if the field is to be very productive for
a long time. A high level of organic matter in the soil is beneficial because it stimulates
root development, improves soil drainage, de- creases soil temperature fluctuations, and

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 increases soil porosity and biological life. Organic matter decays under the influence of
microorganisms in the soil, heavy rainfall and high soil temperature.
The amount of organic matter will gradually decrease once the field has been cleared
and cause a decrease in yield. Therefore newly established plantains which receive only
fertilizer will produce a high yield only in the first year. In the second year the yield will
drop because the organic matter will have decomposed. To compensate for this
continuous decrease in the amount of organic matter, the field needs mulch from plants
and/or manure from animals.
There are many sources of mulch. It can be either carried into the field or produced
between the plants; but to be effective, it should cover the soil completely. Once the
field is mulched, weeds are controlled and the topsoil is protected against heavy rainfall
and intense sun- shine. Poultry, pigs and cows produce suitable manure which is applied
only at the base of the mat.
External sources of mulch can consist of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), which
is rich in potassium, or cassava peelings, wood shavings, palm bunch refuse, dried
weeds, kitchen refuse, and so on.
Collecting and transporting mulch are expensive in time and labor. The most convenient
source consists of plants growing inside the plantain fields if they produce a great deal of
organic matter without competing with the plantains. Suitable mulch material can be
obtained from trees which were slashed when the fields were cleared and which are
growing again; or from a deep-rooted legume shrub called Flemingia congesta or F.
macrophylla.
F. congesta is seed drilled in the middle of the 3 m plantain alley. It can be difficult to
establish, but from the second year onwards it grows vigorously. It can reach a height of
approximately 2.5 to 3 m if left unpruned, but in the field it is cut back 4 times a year to
a height of about 1.5m. The prunings are spread over the soil. Flemingia is not fertilized
as it benefits from fixed nitrogen and leached fertilizers applied to the plantains. Grass
growing between the plantains is not suitable as a mulch source because it competes
with the plantains.

Fertilization

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 The plantain crop always benefits from the use of fertilizer. The yield from fertilized
plants can be up to 10 times higher than that from unfertilized plants. The amount of
fertilizer needed depends on soil fertility and soil type. General recommendations
cannot be made as these should be based on soil or leaf analysis and the results of
fertilizer experiments (available from IITA).
To produce a heavy bunch, plantains always need some extra nutrients. These can be
applied in the form either of inorganic fertilizers or organic fertilizers (mulch, manure or
ash from wood fires). Inorganic fertilizers have the advantages of easy handling and
concentrated nutrients. Organic fertilizers are very bulky, yet they manifest many
important characteristics. They improve soil moisture retention, weed and erosion
control, soil porosity and biological activity.
The application of fertilizer should start 1 month after planting of plantains or with the
first rains in an already existing field. The fertilizer is applied around the main plant in a
circle about 50 cm in diameter. Fertilizer is not worked into the soil as that causes
extensive damage to the superficial root system. No fertilizer is applied in the dry season
Since potassium and nitrogen are easily leached, they should always be applied at
regular intervals (split applications) during the growing (rainy) season. Other important
nutrients are phosphate, calcium and magnesium which are provided in one application.
In some exceptional cases, micro-nutrients (for example, zinc or sulfur) have to be
applied.
It is strongly recommended to provide the plants with waste plant material from
weeding or other crop sources. Animal manure should only be applied during the wet
season. Be careful not to spread the manure too close to the plant because the heat
produced during decomposition could cause the plantain to wilt.
Additional mineral fertilizer can be used depending on the soil type and the use of
organic waste. It is necessary to put back in the soil the elements that the plant has
withdrawn in order to maintain high yields.
Apply around 10 to 15 tonnes (100 to 150 sacks of 100 kg) of com- post or chicken
droppings per hectare per year. This means that before planting, each planting pit should
get 10 to 15 kg of chicken droppings or compost mixed with black earth.

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 At the beginning and end of each wet season, apply 1 to 2 kg of a complete fertilizer high
in nitrogen and potash to each plantain plant each year. Divide the fertilizer into two or
three measures. Apply the fertilizer in a drip line placement around the plantain plant.

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Pest Control

Disease Control

Harvesting

Storage

Processing

Requirements

Labour Input

Management Input

Minimum Operational Efficiency

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Conclusion

Recommendation

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