Analysis Of Factors Influencing Market Channel Choice And Access By Smallholder Tomato Farmers In Kilolo District,Tanzania

Choice of marketing channels among smallholder farmers is one of the most essential farm household decisions towards selling their produce and has a great impact on household income.However,model underlying the relative significance of household demographic,social economic and institutional factors influencing market channel choice at household level in Kilolo district has never been estimated.The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the choice of marketing channels among smallholder tomato farmers in the aforementioned Tanzanian district.Specifically,this study aimed 1.To identify and characterize current tomato marketing distribution channels existing in the study area.2.To assess some factors influencing smallholder tomato farmers` choice and access to marketing channels.3.To examine challenges facing smallholder tomato farmers in marketing their produce.The study was guided by the following questions 1.What are the characteristics of the existing tomato marketing channels in Kilolo district,Tanzania? 2.How demographic,social economic and institutional factors influence smallholder tomato farmers' choice and access to marketing channels? 3.How challenges facing smallholder tomato farmers affect marketing their produce? Data were collected from 286 randomly selected smallholder tomato farmers and stratified sampling was employed to get 10 stakeholders participating in the tomato supply chain in Kilolo District.A semi-structured questionnaire was used in conducting interviews to all respondents.Descriptive statistics and a Multinomial Logit(MNL)model were applied in data analysis using STATA software version 14.This study identified four main tomato marketing channels in Kilolo district such as assemblers,wholesalers,consumers and agro-processing channels.The findings indicated that majority(52%)of farmers preferred assemblers channel to sell their roduce,while 22%,14%,and 12% preferred wholesalers,consumers and agroprocessing,respectively.The MNL results revealed that,the probability of choosing assemblers channel were significantly(all p < 0.05)influenced by gender and education level of household head,farm size,grading of the produce and off-farm income activities.Also,the probability of choosing wholesale and consumer channels were significantly(all p < 0.05)influenced by gender of the household head,farm size and grading of the product relatively to agro-processing industries.Since several factors affect marketing channel choices and access to market,it is therefore imperative to improve the link across factors controlling marketing channel choice.Generally,the study recommended on the improvement of market facilities and collection centers,increase in training provision to improve farmers' knowledge in formal markets participation and more importantly,farmers should be trained on the group functions and its benefits in accessing high-value markets while buyers should conform to laws and regulations governing markets to enable sustainable growth of tomato industry across the country.