Analysis Of Tomato Value Chain In Rugombo District, Burundi

ABSTRACT

This study analysed the tomato value chain in Rugombo district in order to develop new insights on the nature of activities along the chain and shade light on possible strategies that may increase primary actor’s (smallholder farmer’s) income. Primary data for this study were collected from various primary, support and institutional actors of the value chain using structured questionnaire and checklist. Descriptive statistics, gross margin and multiple linear regression models were used to analyse the collected data. The findings of this study show that although the tomato value chain in Rugombo constituted by conventional actors such as input suppliers, farmers, rural assemblers, wholesalers, retailers, consumers, support and institutional actors, the chain is largely dominated by smallholder producers. Furthermore, the tomato value chain is characterized by the lack of value addition, weak horizontal and vertical coordination among actors in the chain. The gross margin results show that retailers enjoy high margins with a minimum of 312.58BIF per Kg of tomato when compared to producers whose margin stands at a minimum of 260.06 BIF per kilogram of tomato. The results from multiple linear regression indicate that level of education (p< 0.05), member of organisation (p