Value Chain Analysis Of Tomato In The Kpone-Katamanso District Of Ghana

Abstract

This study considered a value chain analysis of tomato production and its related activities in the Kpone-Katamanso District of Ghana. Data collection was well-structured questionnaires administered to 210 respondents consisting of 120 farmers, 39 distributors, 31 retailers and 20 consumers. The first objective identified the actors in the chain, their functions and existing linkages. The main actors along the tomato value chain are farmers, distributors (assemblers and wholesalers) and retailers. The second objective examined the costs, returns and profit distributed along the chain by each actor. The retailer of the fresh tomato earned the highest profit of GHS 4.50 on every 5kg of fresh tomatoes sold. This is followed by the distributors (assemblers and wholesalers) with GHS 0.89 on every 5kg of fresh tomatoes distributed, and finally the farmer earns GHS 0.37 on every 5 kilograms of fresh tomatoes sold. The third objective identifies the power relations in the tomato value chain. The dominant actors who commanded power over others in the tomato value chain are the distributors of fresh tomatoes. The constraints to tomato confronting the actors are the lack of credit facilities, pests and diseases, lack of access to market information, seasonal price fluctuation of marketed tomato, high cost of tomato and unreliable source of supply. Ready market existence for trader association, increasing use of tomato, food security and its derivatives were regarded as opportunities.