Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1700 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2855 (Online) Vol.5, No.22, 2014 122 Determinant of Income from Pineapple Production in Imo State, Nigeria An Econometric Model Approach Esiobu, N.S* G.C Onubuogu Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria *Corresponding Author’s Email: successachivers2k@gmail.com Abstract The study was on determinant of income from pineapple production in Imo State, Nigeria. One hundred and twenty households pineapple farmers were selected using multi-stage random sampling techniques. Well structured questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools gross income analysis and multiple linear regression. Mean age was 47.24 years. Majority (65.00%) were females. Average household size was 5.68 persons. Farmers cultivated on an average farm size of 1.41Ha. Average farm income was N81,810.00 ($545.40). Average farm output was 3910.00 tonnes Ha -1 in the 2013 cropping season. Greater proportion (81.11%) practiced mixed cropping system. Positive net farm return and return per capita invested was N447,841.50 ($2,985.61) and N1.84 ($0.012) respectively. Estimated econometric result shows that household size, farm income, extension contact, educational level, farm size and membership of cooperative society influence income at 1% level of probability respectively. The F-ratio was (43.291), revealing the overall significant of the regressors at 1% level of probability. Pineapple production is lucrative and efficient in the area. However, farmers complained of inadequate production capital and inadequate storage and processing facilities. It was therefore recommended that farmers should be encouraged to form agricultural co-operatives to eliminate the exploitative activities of input agencies as well as enable them obtain credits from the government and other credits institutions. Good storage and processing facilities should also be provided for the farmers to reduce spoilage and distressed sales. Government at all levels and private’s sector support is required for provision of improved pineapple technologies to the farmers through strengthened extension service system. Keywords: Pineapple, Production system, Gross income analysis, Output, Econometric model, Constraints, Imo State INTRODUCTION Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is the third most important tropical fruit in the world after banana (Musa spp.) and Citrus spp. (Esiobu et al., 2014a). Important producing countries are Brazil, India, China, Nigeria, Mexico and Colombia. They produce the fruit primarily for fresh fruit markets and processing industry. Nigeria ranked 6th on the list for world pineapple production with nearly 800,000 tonnes produced annually (CADP Manuel, 2012). According to Ubi et al., (2008) the crop is drought tolerant and well adapted to the tropical acid sand with pH ranging from 4.5 to 6.5. The crop is propagated by new vegetative growth. Okoli et al., (2014) revealed that pineapple is a delicious fruit with fine flavour and high nutritive value, its contents makes it a good raw material in confectionary industries for making sweet, fruit drinks and household food addictives. It has medicinal value and a fragment consumption of pineapple juice immunes one against fever parasite (Amao et al., 2011). Pineapple is used mainly as food in the form of snacks and fruit-juice, while in most parts of the world the fermented juice is used to make vinegar and alcoholic spirit. Pineapple leaves are used to make cloth and rope, while the whole plant is used as a source of energy. However, despite the nutritional and commercial value of pineapple its production remains low in Nigeria when compared to other nations of the world (Esiobu et al., 2014a). Apart from Nigeria’s agriculture not producing enough to meet the food requirements of the increasing population, one of its greatest problems is that of inadequate vitamins in the diet of a large proportion of the population, especially in the rural areas which constitute over 70% of the country’s population Furthermore, research development and investment effort have often been focused primarily on production of other staple foods and vegetables while paying little or no attention on pineapple production. However, particularly, in Imo State, Nigeria, little or no study has rigorously modeled the determinant of income from pineapple production along with econometric model. The absence of these studies has left a void in research. Empirical evidence remains largely scanty, isolated and devoid of in-depth analysis of income from pineapple production. This creates a deep vacuum in research, knowledge and literature. Thus, to fill this dearth in research, it becomes pertinent that the study is undertaken. CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals