Plantain Farm Yield Per Acre in Nigeria and What 20 Acres Means for You

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How Profitable Is Plantain Farming on 20 Acres in Nigeria?

How Many Tonnes of Plantain Can You Farm on 20 Acres of Land in Nigeria?

This question comes up a lot, especially for people planning to go into large-scale plantain farming in Nigeria. The short answer is: it depends. But let me break it down in a very simple and realistic way.

First, How Does Plantain Yield Work?

Plantain is not counted like maize or rice. What matters are:

1. how many plantain stands you plant,

2. how big each bunch grows,

3. and how well you manage the farm.

If any of these is poor, your harvest will be poor.

How Many Plantain Stands Fit in One Acre?

Most farmers in Nigeria plant plantain with 3 metres by 3 metres spacing. This spacing allows the plantain to grow well and produce big bunches.

With this spacing:

> 1 acre carries about 450–500 plantain stands

> 20 acres will carry about 9,000–10,000 stands

This is the normal practice on Nigerian farms.

How Heavy Is One Plantain Bunch?

In some Nigerian farms, small or poorly managed farms can be up to 8–10kg per bunch. While average farms can be up to 12–15kg per bunch. And a very good farms, 18–20kg per bunch

To be realistic and safe, most farmers calculate with 12–15kg per bunch.

So, How Many Tonnes From 20 Acres?

Let’s do the math in a simple way.

Average Situation (Most Common)

> 9,500 plantain stands × 12kg per bunch

Total = 114,000kg

That is about 114 tonnes of plantain from 20 acres.

If Your Farm Is Well Managed,

> 10,000 stands × 15kg per bunch

Total = 150,000kg

That is about 150 tonnes of plantain from 20 acres.

If Management Is Poor,

> 9,000 stands × 10kg per bunch

Total = 90,000kg

That is about 90 tonnes

What Really Affects Your Final Harvest?

This is very important. Your yield depends on: soil fertility, rainfall or irrigation, good suckers (not weak ones), proper spacing, weed control, pest and disease management.

If you ignore these, even 20 acres will not save you.

About Intercropping (Pineapple, Maize, Cocoyam)

Many Nigerian farmers intercrop plantain with pineapple, maize, or cocoyam to reduce cost and make early money.

Note, intercropping does not reduce plantain yield if:

- plantain spacing is wide enough (3m or more)

- crops are well arranged

- shading is controlled

Plantain usually starts producing from 9–12 months, so income comes early.

Final Answer (Plain Truth)

Under normal Nigerian conditions, minimum yield on 20 acres: about 90 tonnes. While average yield: about 110–130 tonnes.

A very good management should be up to 150 tonnes or more. Anything above this depends on experience, soil, and serious farm management.