Browsing by Author "Kamugisha, Paschal Proscovia"

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Analysis of supply chain for green beans in Tanzania: a case Study of Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Dar es salaam regions
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2006) Kamugisha, Paschal Proscovia
This study was conducted to examine supply chain of green beans in Tanzania. Data were collected from secondary and primary sources. Four farm owners from Kilimanjaro (3) and Arusha (1); and Seventeen market agents from Arusha (5), Kilimanjaro (5) and Dar cs Salaam (7) regions were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Checklists were used to interview owners of big hotels and supermarkets. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Profit margins and marketing margins were estimated as indicators of performance and market efficiency respectively. The study revealed that green beans were marketed through three different channels. These are: (1) farmers =>exporting companies => European markets => consumers; (2) fanners => supermarkets => consumers; and (3) farmers => assemblers => wholesalers =>retailers consumers. Wholesalers had relatively high market power followed by retailers, fanners, and assemblers. Farmers and exporting companies were bound by formal contracts enforced by law. Other chain actors used informal contracts whose enforcement was trustfulness. About 71% of chain actors lacked storage facilities. Majority of chain actors (86%) used open spaces to keep green beans fresh. Quality attributes mentioned by marketing agents were: freshness. immature, greenish and straight beans. Wholesalers had more access to market information than other chain actors. Green beans production and marketing faced some problems. These are diseases and expensive pesticides, water scarcity, lack of organizations among chain actors and limited access to market information. Regarding the problem of diseases and expensive pesticides, farmers/traders should be sensitized to form organizations. The organization can purchase inputs in bulky and sell them to farmers at reasonable price; and improve farmers’/ traders’ negotiation power. To improve water supply, rainwater harvesting and modem technology like should be promoted. Improvement on market information system should be enhanced by promoting telecommunications infrastructure.