Determinants of Smallholder Tomato Farmers' Participation in High-Value Markets in Shurugwi, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify the determinants of smallholder tomato farmers’ participation in high-value markets in Shurugwi, Zimbabwe. In this study, 156 smallholder tomato farmers derived from a population of 2500, with 57 females and 99 males were involved in the study. Questionnaires were administered through direct contact with the respondents. Data were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The study indicated that there is a relationship between socio-economic factors such as age, sex, formal education level, household size, and access to markets. The study concluded that an increase in the size of the household had a negative influence on access to markets. This is because the larger the household, the more options for alternative income and reduced reliance on tomato marketing. This showed that an increase in household size had a reduction in the likeliness to participate in high-value markets. Education for the head of the household had a negative effect showing that the more educated the head of household, the less likely they were in accessing high-value markets. The price of tomatoes, quality of roads, distance to markets, local council tax fees, and cost of transportation all had a negative influence and was significant in influencing farmers to access markets in the study area. Poor road networks are affecting the ease of doing business in the district and they are getting worse due to the effect of rains and poor maintenance. Gender differences also showed significance in accessing farmers with men being noted to have better access to high-value markets than women. The study observed that access to cold chains and market information was not significant in accessing markets. Recommendations include the formation of tripartite relationships between government, private sector, and farmer groups as critical in addressing infrastructural-related issues related to transportation and logistics. The impact of Covid-19 was also realized as a hindrance especially due to travel restrictions. There is a need for collaborative efforts for the government and private sector to promote market systems development for tomato production at the local level. Strategies such as tomato contract farming and the creation of tomato production hubs or value chain processing centers will be most ideal. Given the increasing participation in artisanal mining, incentives for participation in the tomato value chain can be developed through infrastructure development in partnership with institutions such as the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, Agricultural Marketing Authority, Zimbabwe Irrigation Technology Centre European Union improving water conveyance systems in irrigation schemes. More studies need to be carried out to investigate other areas such as profitability analysis of the tomato value chain to develop highly efficient production methods, the implication of Command Agriculture on horticultural production, and evaluating the quality of Extension Services in horticultural crops production.