Profitability and market performance of smallholder vegetable production: evidence from Ethiopia

Regardless of the fact that the vegetable crop is crucial for Ethiopia's economy, public research on vegetable crops was negligible, and limited attention has been given to the sector. The main objective of the study was to analyze profitability of vegetable production, market performance and i...

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Main Authors: Ibrahim Aliyi, Abduselam Faris, Assefa Ayele, Alemayehu Oljirra, Mulubrihan Bayessa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-09-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021021113
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author Ibrahim Aliyi
Abduselam Faris
Assefa Ayele
Alemayehu Oljirra
Mulubrihan Bayessa
author_facet Ibrahim Aliyi
Abduselam Faris
Assefa Ayele
Alemayehu Oljirra
Mulubrihan Bayessa
author_sort Ibrahim Aliyi
collection DOAJ
description Regardless of the fact that the vegetable crop is crucial for Ethiopia's economy, public research on vegetable crops was negligible, and limited attention has been given to the sector. The main objective of the study was to analyze profitability of vegetable production, market performance and identify major constraints of smallholder vegetables production, specifically potato, tomato and cabbage. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 420 sample households randomly from nine kebeles, and 139 traders were selected purposively. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources by using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, gross profit formula and structure-conduct-performance model was applied to analyze the data. The result of profitability analysis showed that potato, tomato and cabbage production in the study area was profitable. The result of structure analysis indicated that the market structure for potato, tomato and cabbage was characterized by weak oligopolistic market. The analysis of market conduct showed that the price of vegetables was determined by traders. Performance analysis demonstrated that the total gross marketing margin and profit margin was highest when producers sold vegetables to consumers and the lowest when they sold vegetables to collectors across the channel. Shortage of inputs, pests and diseases, lack of improved storage, post-harvest loss, brokers' interventions, low price of the product, poor transportation facility and information flow were the major constraints. Therefore, policy initiatives aiming at increasing farmers' access to quality vegetables inputs, strengthen vegetable extension services, improving infrastructure, disseminating reliable market information, reducing unfair profit distribution and increasing bargaining power of farmers to accelerate rural economic growth and poverty reduction. In addition, research institutes and universities should significantly contribute in releasing high yielding and disease resistant varieties to improve production and productivity of vegetables sector.
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spelling doaj.art-af183b4dd2ae41a886a775525a9b57f92022-12-21T19:52:03ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402021-09-0179e08008Profitability and market performance of smallholder vegetable production: evidence from EthiopiaIbrahim Aliyi0Abduselam Faris1Assefa Ayele2Alemayehu Oljirra3Mulubrihan Bayessa4Corresponding author.; Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, EthiopiaDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, EthiopiaDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, EthiopiaDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, EthiopiaDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, EthiopiaRegardless of the fact that the vegetable crop is crucial for Ethiopia's economy, public research on vegetable crops was negligible, and limited attention has been given to the sector. The main objective of the study was to analyze profitability of vegetable production, market performance and identify major constraints of smallholder vegetables production, specifically potato, tomato and cabbage. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 420 sample households randomly from nine kebeles, and 139 traders were selected purposively. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources by using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, gross profit formula and structure-conduct-performance model was applied to analyze the data. The result of profitability analysis showed that potato, tomato and cabbage production in the study area was profitable. The result of structure analysis indicated that the market structure for potato, tomato and cabbage was characterized by weak oligopolistic market. The analysis of market conduct showed that the price of vegetables was determined by traders. Performance analysis demonstrated that the total gross marketing margin and profit margin was highest when producers sold vegetables to consumers and the lowest when they sold vegetables to collectors across the channel. Shortage of inputs, pests and diseases, lack of improved storage, post-harvest loss, brokers' interventions, low price of the product, poor transportation facility and information flow were the major constraints. Therefore, policy initiatives aiming at increasing farmers' access to quality vegetables inputs, strengthen vegetable extension services, improving infrastructure, disseminating reliable market information, reducing unfair profit distribution and increasing bargaining power of farmers to accelerate rural economic growth and poverty reduction. In addition, research institutes and universities should significantly contribute in releasing high yielding and disease resistant varieties to improve production and productivity of vegetables sector.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021021113EthiopiaMarket performanceProfitabilityVegetablesSmallholder farmers
spellingShingle Ibrahim Aliyi
Abduselam Faris
Assefa Ayele
Alemayehu Oljirra
Mulubrihan Bayessa
Profitability and market performance of smallholder vegetable production: evidence from Ethiopia
Heliyon
Ethiopia
Market performance
Profitability
Vegetables
Smallholder farmers
title Profitability and market performance of smallholder vegetable production: evidence from Ethiopia
title_full Profitability and market performance of smallholder vegetable production: evidence from Ethiopia
title_fullStr Profitability and market performance of smallholder vegetable production: evidence from Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Profitability and market performance of smallholder vegetable production: evidence from Ethiopia
title_short Profitability and market performance of smallholder vegetable production: evidence from Ethiopia
title_sort profitability and market performance of smallholder vegetable production evidence from ethiopia
topic Ethiopia
Market performance
Profitability
Vegetables
Smallholder farmers
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021021113
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