Round potato production in southern highlands of Tanzania : market preferences, farmers’ variety selection, and profitability
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Date
2013
Authors
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study investigated the market orientation of round potato fanners in the southern
highlands ofTanzania. A market oriented farmer, assumed to be a maximiser ofshort run
profit, is expected to select varieties with higher profit potential and in accordance with
market preferences and would allot more acreage to a more profitable crop than those
needed for home consumption. Thus, this study sought to achieve the following
objectives: to determine the market preferences for round potato varieties; to determine
factors guiding farmers’ selections for varieties they produce; to analyse the profitability
by varieties; and to analyse the market orientation of the round potato farmers. A sample
of 510 farmers was obtained in Njombe, Mbeya Rural and Nkasi Districts. Preferences for
round potato varieties was analysed by using a mini market survey of 155 respondents.
The collected data was analysed by using both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
Gross margin (GM) analysis, logistic regression and ANOVA models, and
commercialisation index (CI) were adopted for data analysis. The overall results showed
that red-skinned round potatoes were preferred to white/purple-skinned ones whereby
consumers associated colour with dry matter content. Farmers’ criteria for variety
selection included seed tuber availability, market demand, price, and common practices.
Econometric results indicated that gender (p<0.01), education level (p<0.05), prices of
previous season (p<0.01), location (p<0.01) and extension services (p<0.01) influenced
farmers’ selection of varieties. Farmers who consulted the extension officers were 2.6
times more likely to choose varieties in accordance with the market preferences than
others. The ANOVA model indicated that there was significant difference in profitability
among varieties. Kagiri was the highest profitable variety with mean GM ofTZS 794 889
per acre followed by Tigoni (TZS 618 167), Kikondo (TZS 484 900), and Arka (TZS 377 743). The proportion of land allotted for the crop ranged from 20% of total land under
cultivation at Nkasi to 67% in Mbeya Rural. Furthermore, CI of 88% showed that round
potato production was highly market oriented. Based on key findings, the study
recommended that plant breeders should include consumer preferences as part of their
breeding programme.
Description
PhD-Thesis
Keywords
Round potato production, Market orientation, Market preferences, Consumer preferences, Southern highlands, Tanzania