A study of tomato farming in Rajghat VDC of Sarlahi district Nepal

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill) is one of the most commonly grown vegetables in Nepal. It has occupied the fourth and fifth position in terms of production and acreage respectively. Despite the fact that Tomato growing is a viable option to increase farm income and hence alleviate widespread poverty considerable attention has not been given for its marketing aspects. Therefore, this study was carried out to “A Study of Tomato Farming in Rajghat VDC of Sarlahi District Nepal” during the year 2014. Specifically, this study was intended to identify condition of Tomato production to estimate gross margin, marketing margin and producer share, to find out the situation of using bio-pesticide and to identify constraints related to production and marketing of vegetables, especially Tomato. Accordingly, a representative sample size of 65 Tomato growers comprising 7 each wards from Rajghat village development committees were purposively selected. Similarly, 2 wholesalers from Hariwon fruits and vegetables wholesale market and 5 retailers from Barthawa vegetable market were purposively selected. The required information was obtained by interviewing with semi-structured questionnaire. This was supplemented with information from focus group discussion with farmer groups and key informants; and observation. From the study it was found that the average cost of production per Kattha was higher in Rajghat wd -3 than in Rajghat-8. Likewise, gross margin was higher in Rajghat-3 than in Rajghat-8 due to lower cost of production and higher yield in former case. In addition, the benefit cost ratio was also found to higher in Rajghat. In the marketing system, the channel of producer, wholesaler-retailer- consumer was most common where about 50 percent Tomato passes to consumer through this channel. The marketing margin was estimated to be Rs. 20 per kg and producer share in the study area was 67 percent, which was highest among chain actors. The mode of selling Tomato in commission was higher in Rajghat-1,2,3,4,5 than in Rajghat 5,6,7,8,9 where farmers sold Tomato by bargaining. However, there was not significant difference in mode of selling. In Hariwan wholesale market, two types of Tomato were found to selling and the wholesale price of Tomato big was found higher than of small one. In the case of total volume of Tomato arrival, about 85 percent Tomato was from different districts of Nepal and rest from India. Plastic crate was the most common packaging material. Likewise, telephone, neighbors and friends were the major means of market information for majority of respondents. The study showed that farmers were facing with several constraints related to production and marketing. Among several production constraints, the most common constraints faced by producers in the study area were high cost of agricultural inputs (seed, fertilizers, and bio-pesticide and agro chemicals), timely unavailability of chemical fertilizers, unavailability of pure seed, lack of technical knowhow, disease and insect pest problems etc. Likewise in marketing constraints, the most common constraints faced by farmers were frequent transport obstruction, high transportation cost, lower price, fluctuation in market prices, unorganized retail markets, lack of processing facilities. The research showed that Tomato growing is a profitable and potential agricultural enterprise in the research area. In conclusion, there is an immense need to adopt market oriented policy and programs linking with production in order to enhance production and marketing efficiency in the study area, in particular.