Effect of improved tomato cultivars on productivity and profitability in Morogoro region, Tanzania
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Date
2016
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Journal of Animal &Plant Sciences
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess yield, revenue and profit from F1 hybrid tomato
cultivars compared to farmers' preferred open pollinated local tomato cultivars grown in
Tanzania. Seeds of local and F1 hybrid tomato varieties were sourced from local agro-dealers.
The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four treatments (cv.
Assila, Eden, Shanty and Oxyl Premium) and four controls consisting of local tomato cultivars
(cv. Tengeru 97, Tanya, Cal-J and Riogrande). A treatment was replicated three times each with
12 plants. The seedlings were planted at a spacing of 60 cm x 60 cm in an open field at Sokoine
University of Agriculture during the rainy and dry seasons. Data on total and marketable fruit
yields were analyzed using Genstat statistical software version 15 and treatment means were
separated based on Fisher’s unprotected LSD test at p< 0.05. Seed and production costs were
computed based on real cost while revenues and net profits were estimated based on fruit
marketable yield and retail prices of TSh. 700 and 1000 per kilogram (One USD = TSh. 2000).
Results indicated that cv. Assila significantly (p = 0.002) produced higher total and marketable
fruit yields than all local tomato cultivars during both the dry and rainy seasons. Moreover, cv.
Eden significantly (p = 0.002) produced higher total and marketable fruit yields than all local
cultivars during the dry season only while cv. Shanty produced higher marketable yields than all
local cultivars during the rainy season only. The production costs of F1 hybrid tomato cultivars
were higher than those of local tomato cultivars during both seasons. Tomato cv. Assila
produced higher revenue and net profit than all local cultivars during both seasons while cv.
Shanty produced higher revenue and net profit than all local tomato cultivars during the rainy
season only. It is therefore recommended that farmers in Morogoro region should grow cv.
Assila during both the rainy and dry seasons, and cv. Shanty during the rainy season only.
Description
Journal of Animal &Plant Sciences, 2016. Vol.30, Issue 3: 4774-4780
Keywords
Marketable yield, Revenue, F1 hybrid tomato cultivars, Local tomato cultivars