MAKING MONEY FROM SURVIVAL INSTINCT OF PLANTAIN

Introduction
Survival and replication of generations is the most characteristic of every living thing be it plant or animal. For this reason, plants and animals adopt survival strategies. Also in a world of prey- predator relationship, and survival of the fittest, most plants and animals develop strategies to escape going into extinction.

What is extinction?
This is the process whereby animal species and group of plants adopt strategies to prevent their kind from disappearing from the face of the earth [source]@nokas
Many animals and plants that hitherto existed thousands of years ago can no longer be seen anywhere on the face of the earth due to extinction resulting from hash weather and human activities.
Some animals that have gone into extinct

Several animals and plants have gone into extinct and some are at the verge of extinction. For the plantain, survival is paramount and multiplication very rapid.
One stem of plantain can give birth to 4 to 8 suckers.

Plantains grow best in hot and humid climates, require a rainfall of 1000mm(39.4') per year to survive and high light requirements. Plantains grow optimally at 27deg Celsius (98 deg F) and require deep soil, rich in organic matter which is well draining and well aerated

These climatic conditions are available in many plarts of the southern part of Nigeria particularly South East and South-South. Given these conditions, plantain can grow any where. Uproot them and put them on top of the stone or on the major highway, they will still grow. Destroy the leaves and leave the stump, they will still grow.

Once the plants grow to a certain height, you don't need to weed and that reduces further the overhead cost and raises your profit margin. Unlike other fruits which you have to re plant or replace with new ones, plantains are self perpetuating indefinitely.

This makes plantain one of the most economical trees and most viable agro business you can think of. Besides, the value chain provides job opportunities for many people.

Medicinal benefits of plantain
Plantains have a lot of medicinal value; all the parts- fruit, stem, leaves or the bark have one or two medicinal effects.
The fruit

High content of potassium implies that plantain can play important role in humans:

• Regulation of blood pressure.
  Any fruit that can supply high quantity of potassium can actually maintain the blood pressure.
• Electrolyte balance
  Potassium is an intracellular electrolyte and together with sodium, an extra cellular electrolyte can play a role in electrolyte balance.
• Cardio protector
  Because of the high content of potassium, the heart is protected from injury such as Angina pectoris.

High content of magnesium
Magnesium is very significant as it is necessary for maintenance of nerve and muscular function and is also associated with glucose regulation. Regular intake of plantain could therefore, maintain normal blood glucose especially taking the unripe one.

Plantains also have high content of vitamin C . Therefore, adequate intake of plantain can be of benefit in maintenance of the skin epithelium and rapid wound healing.

Plantain may also be beneficial in visual improvement because of the high content of vitamin A.

The leaves and the tree have many medicinal values but let us leave them and talk about Recipes of plantain

Different Recipes of plantain

In this side of the country, there are different ways plantain can be prepared to give you that delicious and mouth watering meals

This makes plantain the only fruit that can be prepared in various ways. You can also take them the same way you take banana. This makes plantain of incomparable economic value.

Economic importance of plantain
Plantain plantation is economically viable. It doesn't take much to start the business. You can start with your one plot of land which you have left fallow for a long time.

One plant of land can give you about 200 stands and these can multiply to about 600 stands in the next two years. One avarege size bunch of plantain can sell for avarage of one thousand naira and that's real business.

Conclusion
Plantain is very resilient and can grow very well in different conditions. The business is easy to start. It is a business worth trying.