Description
Abstract
The study examined the value chain of tomato production and marketing in Edo State. The specific objectives are to: examine the socioeconomic characteristics of tomato farmers in the study area; find out the value chain processes involved in safe keeping of tomato in a harvest season in the study area; identify the actors involved in value chain marketing of tomato products accrued from tomato in the study area; identify the challenges encountered by stakeholders during tomatoes value addition. Multistage sampling technique was employed. The study made use of primary data. This means that the data were collected directly from the respondents of the study. The information required from the respondents were gathered via the use of questionnaire and interview schedule. The data used for this study were collected by the researcher. The data for thestudy were analysed using descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, means and standard deviations were used to analyze data collected. The major findings showed that most tomatoes sellers’ monthly income from tomatoes sales is within N5,000 to N10,000,  average quantity from tomato’s selling is within 36 – 42, they are involved in the buying of tomato, involved in sorting and grading of tomatoes, are involved in loading of tomatoes, are involved in transportation of tomatoes, are involved in washing of tomatoes, are involved drying of tomato, are involved in assembling of tomatoes, are involved in packaging of tomatoes, involved in par-boiling of tomato. Majority of the respondents are actors involved in tomato value chain marketing, labourers (farm workers), tomatoes pickers, graders, loaders, transporters, processors, dryers, assemblers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. This study concluded that buying tomatoes, sorting and grading of tomatoes, loading, transportation, washing, drying, assembling, packaging, par-boiling. In addition, tomatoes production and marketing is confronted by some challenges among which include lack of adequate funding, inconsistency of government policy, lack of market information, price in fluctuation in tomatoes, pest infestation, lack of support from food research institution, illiteracy of most local tomato farmers, unwillingness to comply with food safety standard by relevant authority, poor storage facilities, poor road network to enhance distribution, poor sales, perishability nature of tomato and lack of processing facilities. It was recommended that credit facilities should be given to tomato farmers to enable them have access to funds to purchase farm inputs and farm implement to boost their tomato farming.
Table of Contents
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.