Evaluation of the Factors Affecting the Production and Marketing of Tomato Crop In Khartoum State, Sudan

Abstract

Tomato is one of the most popular and widely grown vegetables in the Sudan. Khartoum State is considered as one of the main producing and consuming areas of tomato crop in the Sudan. The objective of this study is to analyze the different factors affecting tomato production and marketing in Khartoum State. This entailed the testing of the hypotheses of the shortage of inputs and high harvest cost impact on level of productivity of tomato, seasonality effect on supply of tomato, and that of the co-integration of the main central markets in Khartoum State. The study used primary data for production and marketing flow and prices of tomato. The production data was collected from a random sample of 65 tomato producers and the data on marketing and prices was collected from direct interviews with the 15 trade-agents in Shambat and 20 in Omdurman central markets. The study also used secondary data on tomato prices for a period of fifteen years obtained from the Sudan Customs, and the Central Bureau of Statistics of the Ministry of Finance and National Economy.. The production function econometric analysis results indicated that land preparation cost, clearing weeds, pesticides cost, fertilizer quantity, number of labor and the expected profits were the important factors that would affect tomato production in Khartoum State. The study found that irrigation cost and harvesting cost are the main cost items tomato production in Khartoum State. The co-efficient of private profitability of tomato was more than unity indicating positive profitability of tomato production in Khartoum State. From that the demand level for fresh tomato in Omdurman market was higher and more stable than in Shambat market. It also showed that Gezira area was the main source of the highest level of tomato daily flows to Shambat and Omdurman central markets. August and July were the higher tomato price months and March and April were the lowest price months in the two markets. The econometric analysis results showed that the changes in Omdurman prices in a certain point of time would result in changes in Shambat price in the next point of time. This would indicate that the two markets were integrated. The study recommended improvement in market information, establishment and distribution of storage facilities over wide areas to minimize crop losses, improvement in transportation means, reduction of taxes and fees and encouragement of investment in tomato processing.