Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Collection

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://10.10.97.169:4000/handle/123456789/1002

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Browsing Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Collection by Author "Charles Paul"

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    Value chain analysis of coconut in Tanzania: a case of tanga and Dar es salaam regions.
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2010) Charles Paul
    This study analysed the coconut value chain in Tanga and Dar es Salaam regions in order to suggest strategies needed to improve coordination in the value chain. The specific objectives were; to assess the roles of actors in the coconut value chain; to study the way coconut value chain is coordinated; to assess the coconut value chain for price and margins at each node and make suggestions for improving coordination of the value chain. The study was cross sectional using data obtained from questionnaires involving 114 respondents. PASW Statistics computer software was used to generate descriptive statistics for describing the characteristics of the value chain. Profit and marketing margins at each node of the value chain were executed to compute efficiency of the value chain. Value chain functions were performed by coconut producers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. The coconut sub-sector in the study area was characterized by low value addition, low producer price, pests and disease attacking coconut plants. Most of the coconuts (90%) were sold to wholesalers as fresh coconuts without any processing. Vertical coordination or linkage between actors along the chain was found to be moderate but horizontal coordination was found to be weak. Retailers obtained higher profit margins than other actors in the value chain. Key problems to the coconut industry was low coconuts producer price, absence of coconut processing industries, diseases and pests which destroy coconut plants and lack of collective market. The study recommends the establishment of coconut processing industry in the study area, formation of producers’ organisation, reinforcing coordination between actors, improvement in roads, market infrastructures, strengthening research extension farmers’ linkages in fighting coconut pests and diseases, and access to credit by actors.