College of Economics and Business Studies

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Browsing College of Economics and Business Studies by Subject "Accessing market information sources"

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    Analysis of access to market information sources and farm level productivity: the case study of Kilosa and Mvomero Districts
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2008) Ngonyani, Ellykedo Theophilus
    The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between accessing market information sources and farm level productivity to smallholder farmers in Kilosa and Mvomero districts in Morogoro region. Specifically the study aimed at (i) identifying market information sources in smallholder production system (ii) examine the relationship between farm productivity and accessing market information sources (iii) examine factors that influence farmers to access and use market information and (iv) harmonize types of market information sources by farmers and farm product types. A cross sectional single­ visit survey of 173 farmers from both Kilosa and Mvomero districts was done. Data were collected using structured questionnaire from the sampled farmers and by reviewing various secondary data from various sources. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics analysis such as frequencies, mean, cross tabulations and percentages. Quantitative statistics such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and multivariate linear regression were used to determine relationship between farm productivity (output) and farmer’s accessing market information sources. Finally the logistic regression was used to examine factors that influence to access and use to market information sources. Results show that majority (82.7%) of the farmers use friends/neighbours as information source. Other sources include radio (68.2%) and traders (44.5%). In harmonizing market information source by farmer and product types, sugarcane was ranked as number one in terms of yield, reliable market and price information accessibility followed by sunflower, maize, rice and lastly simsim. Productivity (output) index was tested against the farmer’s access to market information sources. The results showed that 56.5% of farmers who have accessed market information were found in low productivity index while 97.1% who did not accessed market information sources were found in high productivity index, hence there was significant relationship (P < 0.05) between household farm productivity index and accessing information sources. Linear regression results showed that there is positive relationship between farm size and farm output while labour intensity was negatively associated with farm output. In addition, education, farm size and radio ownership influenced farmers to use and access market information. Based on the study findings, we recommend that some of the problems experienced by market participants in accessing market information can be solved by improving institutional and organizational arrangements, localization of market information, improving means of delivering market information and by promoting market information dissemination.